The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-09-23
THE NATTER WITH THE FAIR

| spirit tHdI prompts men 10 give IOC
much thought and money to races
and too little to the development OF
stock and agriculture, to lettering
the means of production, would ulti-
mately ruin our fair. We were tax.
en- to task about it and we think we
proved our point and have never
changed our mind since.
People have come out of the fair
grounds all these years grumbling
about the put up jobs" and the rot
| tenness" of the races. Not that there
were not good horses and everything
4 that it takes for good races, but the
.public are determined that there is
| "jobbing' going on and that it some
times becomes too rank to be toler-
ated, yet they get over it and go
again.
The management of the Boise fair
have turned out everything of a
gambling nature, and greater sue
cess has crowned their work. New
York state has been through the mill
and. they have found out that race
track gambling does not regulate bus
mess nor the sun, moon and stars.
When it is cut out everything else
goes merrily on, and life and recr
reation and amusement are better
and cleaner for it.
We are not saying that the racing
at Blackfoot is good, bad, or other
wise. We are simply discussing the
peoples verdict, and are applying the
principle to forecast the result.
Blackfoot is in an agricultural
community, and should encourage
the production of better products
whether it is things to eat and feed,
or people and stock to consume them
Races do not bring better stock into
the country half so much as better
stock in the country brings the races.
If this writes were running the fair
and could consult his own inclina-
tiOns, he would attempt to eliminate |
what people generally call gambling
and "jobbing," If we had to cut 4
down to pony races among the boys |
and Indians. We take it that what
the people want in races as a rule
is run for the money" and the
race that is pulled off in the spirit
Of every fellow for himself is the
one they enjoy.
We are glad the fair association
made enough this year to get out of
debt. 1t must be a great relief to
them after So many years of hard
luck, to put few dollars in the
bank and call it their own.
We believe the shortening of the
race program this year as compared
with last, was winner for them
financially, and that it pleased the
people. We believe the men from
The university did much good, and
the management is to be commended
FOR getting them. We hope they will
have more of them next year, and
hat they will find way to teach
more of how to manage the soil and
he moisture to increase and quicken
liant growth. How to carry on the
breeding of stock and poultry to get
,etter results with the same toll and
expense. More lectures, more study,
more thcughtfulness among the peo-
lie and less of the desire to be en-
ertained and amuse would, better
heir condition-but If the board Of
irectors is to carry out these meas .
res, they must have the co-opera-
ion of the people, and that means
ONE definite planning for it in adj s
ance. 1t means stopping the steam
hresher fair week. 1t means cessa-
ion of digging potatoes and market 9
1g grain and stacking hay. It means !
ONE temporary sacrifice, but 1t t
hould be week of recreation and a
tudy and of invoicing to see what T
as been gained during the year in