The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-19
FOR KANSAS FAIR
Citizens Appear Before House
and Senate Committee.
Topeka and Wichita People on
Same Basis.
LET Us HAVE A FAIR.
Question of Location to Be De-
cided Later.
Insists That Bill
Locate Fair There.

Il For more than three hours last
| night the members of the ways and
means committee of the house and
senate listened to arguments of in
terested citizens relative to the estab-
| lishment of a Kansas state fair.
The meeting was characterized by
great enthusiasm in favor of the
project and the members of the ways
and means committee during the
hearing seemed impressed with the
! Importance of starting a state fair for
| Kansas now.
There were two bills before the
| joint committee. One introduced in
! the house by Representative Jewett,
of Sedgwick, and in the senate by
Senator Avery of Clay, making an
APPROXIMATION for the establishment of
| a state fair leaving the question of
| location to be decided later by a
majority vote of both houses of the
legislature. The other bill provided
for a state fair to be located
grounds of the Central Kansas Fair
association to be utilized for the state
exposition.
Representatives of both Wichita
and Topeka advocated the general
proposition of a state fair and they
declared specifically that they were
were not at the meeting to present the
claims of their respective cities for
estly urged an appropriation by the
state for the purpose of establishing
and fostering a state fair somewhere
in the state, and they expressed their
Willingness to take their chances on
securing the location
On the other hand representatives
of Hutchinson absolutely refused to
go in with Wichita and Topeka, on the
general proposition of state fair
somewh ere, but insisted that were
al hot oft fai he
established at Hutchinson. Their
position seemed to De that they
wanted a state fair at Hutchinson and
if that could not be they were willing
to take the chance of the whole state
fair proposition losing out
Representative E. B. Jewett, of
wichita presented the proposition to
the committee and declared that Kan
sas should not permit other states to
obtain an advantage over her by rea-
son Of their state fairs which so sue
cessfully advertised their agricultural
resources. He believed that the re-
sources of Kansas could be greatly
advertised by state fair and that
our rich states needs just such an in
stitution.
Mr.. H A. Heath, of Topeka, pre-
sented figures showing the marvellous
success and earnings of fairs in other
states. He declared that all the states
in the west, with the exception of
Arkansas, maintain state fairs and
that the people interested in the
project in this state represent 80 per
cent of the taxable property of Kan |
sas "a state fair he said sis as !
much of a necessity as the Agricul- |
tural college or the State university !
He showed how a state fair would be |
self sustaining and perhaps money |
maker in a few years. Data from |
other states were given where fairs
were clearing from $4,000 to $11O.-
900 annually above expenses lib |
eral appropriation had an advantage |
and was cheaper he thought because |
the fair would sooner be placed on a |
paying basis.
Mr.. E. H. Crosby, also of Topeka, |
said that for years he has been dream |
ing of a state fair for Kansas and he |
dream come true. He said he was not |
talking with respect to the question of |
location, but for the general proposition |
Of state fair for the good of the whole |
state.
Representative w. Y. Morgan. A l. |
Sponsler and President Robinson of the |
Fair association, set forth |
the claims of Hutchinson and offered /
fair at that place. Mr.. SponSler and |
the other Hutchinson speakers took the |
position that the state fair for Hutch
nson was of first consideration.
Senator Stannard advanced the opin- |
on that the Hutchinson bill would de- |
feat the establishment of a state fair /
not only at that place but at any place. |
He urged it's supporters that the bill be |
and that Hutchinson take |
her chance along with the other cities |
He thought the injection of the loca-
lion into any state fair bill would pre-
vent its passage as it had always done |
heretofore.
Opposition to a state fair was voiced |
by Representative Brown of Bourbon |
county, who advocated instead his bill |
providing state appropriations for the |
of county fairs.
Senator Avery, who is a prominent |
farmer of Clay county, told the COM |