The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-12
ALL BUSY THERE
Everyday DOings at State Fair
Headquarters.
Secretary II. L. Cook Is Busiest
Man in Town.
THEY WANT JOBS
Forty Persens Apply Each Day
for Positions.
The State Fair at Topeka Big
ger Than Ever.
JOBS

Secretary Cook of the Kansas State
Fair is a busy man. the near ap-
proach of fair week and the multltu-
dinous duties that fall to the secretary
in preparation for the big event MAKE
the proverbiaI cranberry merchant a
man of leisure in comparison The re-
porter while waiting for an opportu-
nitv to interview Mr.. Cook, sat apart
from the crowd Of visitors ana TOOK
note of what was said.
The first in their turn was an olo
colored aunty who was insistent upon
being taken care OF with space TOT d
"geul stand which she said would
he conducted in such a manner Inat
exervbOdv who wanted something good
to eat on the grounds would hock 10
her tent. THE facts are" said Mr.
Cook. that we have too many OF these
general stands now and 1ot big DIM
ing room in sight. What we need there
is a dining hall. a good one, and thlnk
Won had better seek out some of these
church organizations that are talking
of reserving space and hire out to
them as cook. know you are q soou
cook from what I have heard OF your
work last YEAR what churches is
dew" inquired the old woman; white
chllrches?" Being answered in the at-
firmative she said. We'll, III go see
'em kase I don't cook for no cullud
folks; 1 cooks for white folks, does.
Rich in One Week.
The next visitor had a proposition
that could not help. according to his |
ROSY story, making the fair ASSOCIATION |
ricb in one short week. Tt was COM |
hinatiOn city guide and program to be |
n11blfsbed fair week When informed /
that the privilege of getting out the |
race program had been let, 1t didn't /
check the taikative itinerant IN his de-
nand for recognition, as his was to be |
a real program, a general program, a |
program that would be sought after AS |
no other speciality offered during the
fair But he was politely but frmly |
convinced and gave way to the next |
waiting to be heard
LOYALTY to the fairs of past years, when !
he served intermittently as superin- /
tendent Of some department or other, |
as gate tender or as guard, and knew I
more about the fair business in a min |
ute than some of the young guardsmen /
that it is proposed to employ, would in /
a thousand years. He was informed |
by the secretary that arrangements /
had already been completed for the +
guards, and turned to talk to the next
in waiting. Not to be put off with just
a mild explanation, the old veteran in
sisted that something ought to be done
i'm recognition of his past services as a
fair booster at so much per day and
suggested that a free ticket for himself
and family would be about right If /
there was no employment He had /
been in the habit of getting on the
payroll and getting the free transpor-
tation, too.
Secretary Cook in the same kindly
but firm tone, informed the old gen
tIeman that the policy of the manage
ment was to create reserve fund for |
the further improvement of the
grounds and for new buildings, and |
that if he was a friend of the fair as
he claimed he should buy tickets for
himself and the family, come to the !
fair, and have something to talk about
. I, I,f. 49, 1T 4
The Dapper Young Man.
A dapper and talkative young man
who wore the insignia Of the drummer !
on the road was next in order He as /
sured the secretary that he had been |
all over the state, had heard lots of /!
talk about the fair. and wanted some /
advertising matter to distribute in his /
territory He glanced wistfully occa-
siOnally at the clerks addressing season !
tickets to be sent to the newspaper !
men of the state, and intimated that /
the newspapers were not doing any
more than he could to boost the fair.
He got bunch of advertising stuff, a
grip full of paper drinking cups. and |
departed. i've heard of that fellows
good work said the secretary. HE
does noe overstate the feeling in his
territory. and he is a good friend of |
our fair
"I want a space 40 by so feet on
your grounds for a stand" was the in
d
awaited his turn. Cant you get along
with less?' said the secretary. ''I have
gone over the matter since you We're
here and talked with my assistant. and |
7 don't see how we are going to place
you for a tent Of that size, anywhere
near the location you have chosen"
This fellow was willing to give and |
take, and was soon fitted out to his
entire satisfa ctiOn. He was there for
business, knew just what he wanted.
and being unable to get just what he
wanted, took the next best thing.
Coast Seemed Clear.
At last the coast was clear for the
reporter. But just as he approached
q delegation of ladies arrived to talk
over the location of the dining room |
that Secretary Cook had been wishing
for. They represented a church, and |
promised to put up a meal that would /
be a credit to the church and the fair
The conditions were stated to them. |
and accepted The bargain was struck. |
and an advance payment made to bind (
the deal, and the ladies went away to |
complete their plans.
Would like mighty well to stop and