Arizona republican., 1908-11-19

moral, and that is that after all the revenues that maintain the fair come from but two resources. One is the territorial treasury which furnishes on- ly the smaller part of the expense money, and the rest is the great big public which digs up at the gate, not one day in the week but every day in the week. The public likes to see the exhibits, but if that were all there was of the fair one days visit would dis pose of it
 But to keep the public coming day after day, the people must be ente~-- tained, for observing people know that however, meritOrious things of real val ue, are, the world is looking for fun. The world don't have to go to a fair but it likes to go if it can have fun, and while it is there it loves to feast the eyes also on what is being achieved in an industrial way. To raise mon- ey enough to pay premiums at all the public must come through liberally and come all the week, and is willing to do so if the attractions are worth while. but good attractions cost money and that is another avenue of heavy ex- pense. The only road to success is to give the biggest show on earth all the time, just as Barnum did, and the fair commission is doing.
 The real criticism to make on the fair, is that the people of Arizona have not yet begun to appreciate it's indi- rect value. O many of them think of it only as an immediate cash dividend proposition. In other words if it costs more to make pie or a shirt waist, to exhibit a COW, hog, sheep, horse or chicken, than is possible to get back in a premium, they want nothing to do with it Such good citizens must change their. 'sJas. A fair is never d direct money maker for the people and cannot be Its profits are all indirect, but in this way the investment is the best ever made, in Arizona at least where it has been such a success. Those who do not appreciate that fact will have to wait until some other time for it would take q book to give all the proofs of the statement The glory of a fair premium is what counts, not the money.
 In the main that argument will no doubt be admitted. but still the indivi- dual exhibitor often feels that his par tieular department ought to have a lit tie larger share. Some believe too much is spent on racing, that the pro- portions are not well maintained. Right here is where one gets into deep water iH a discussion of the subject. /It is the regulation of these proportions that taxes the astuteness of tine commis- sioners. Thus far they have conducted famous exhibitions and "brOke even" which is more than most fairs have done, and that is mighty good argu- ment in defense of their judgment. They have secured horses and auto mobiles and airships that brought enough money at the gates to pay the premiums they guaranteed to pay an that Is a lot better than it would be to offer twice as big premiums, clip the amusement feature that much and show to empty benches. And the stan dard of the Arizona fair will permit of no second class amusement. Only the best will get the money and the best cost money.
 In some quarters the s1,OOO purses have been deemed too high, as compar- ed with s400 purses for local colts. No lesser purses would attract the big horses, for even when they win their travelling expenses to and from Phoe- nix practically equal the purses. When the colt wins purse he was brought to the fair at a comparatively slight ex pense and even if it is not large one there is as much profit in it for the owner as there is in the big purses for those who win them. And when colts break into fast company on the Phoe- nix track now it means something, as they will surely do in another year or two for there has been scarcely time to raise fast horse here since the fair was started.
 And then the commission itself has a kick coming, or should have, though