The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-09-13
CLAY COUNTY'S
FAIR EXHIBIT
SENATOR MARDEN ANSWERS
R%EFLEcTING STATEMENT AND
CRITICISM AND GIVES INTER.
EsTlNG FACTS WHICH SEEM
TO HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED.

Today Senator Marden gave out the
following statement regarding some
| strictutes which have beer made rela-
tive to the exhibits of grains, etc,
which were sent to the state fair and
he makes the following explanations:
1T has recently come to my atten-
tion that some person had stated that
if S. N. Lee and l had gone to the
state fair and boosted for Clay %county's
exhibits we would W. won better
than tenth prize in the northern diVi-
sion. The judges scarcely need a de-
Tense at my hands. They are honor
able gentlemen and of course the
| presence of Mr.. Lee and myself would
have made absolutely no difference in
the marking.
This statement assumes that the
judges at the state fair are subject
to outside influences and do not work
exhibits strictly according to their
merits.
"ProbNbly the person quoted did not
realize just what he was saying. but
an injustice is being done that must
be corrected. l represent Becker,
Clay and Wilkin counties. All three
were exhibitors and contestants for
prizes at the fair this year. Becker
county exhibited last year and had the
benefit of previous experience. Clay
and Wilkin exhibited for the first
time, this year. The gentlemen in
charge of the exhibits were enthusi-
asts and did their utmost. Becker
county was hampered with insufficient
funds, Clay and Wilkin by i%nexperi-
ence. The three counties contested
against the whole state; some seven
ty-five exhibits in all.
There were only thirty prizes, and
yet each county won a prize. Becker
won third prize and Clay tenth prize
in the northern division and Wilkin
won ninth prize in the central divi-
sion.
II saw the three exhibits on the
first day of the fair and l was mighty
pleased with them. They were being
closely examined by large crowds and
the gentlemen in charge were very
busy. Personally ! thought we had
the finest exhibits there, but the ex-
perts do the marking.
"On the products exhibited we re-
ceived high marks, but on many fea-
lures we had no exhibits at all, and
of course this counted against as.
In the northern division Roseau
county wone first place with 1910
credits. Becker won third place with
LOAF credits and Clay won tenth place
with 921 credits.
I'm the central division Douglas
county won first prize with l,07O
credits and Wilkin won ninth prize,
! with 948 credits.
The Detroit Record attributes
Becker county's success to the judg-
ment used in sorting the exhibits,
| quote: The scoring of LOAF points
by Becker county was due chiefly to
the discrimination with which the
products were sorted. and the further
fact that all classes were filled. Many
exhibitors took down articles of abb
normal growth and of freakish nature.
These won nc prizes and are given
no recognition in the scoring
Personally I am well satisfied with
the results. Each county in the dis
trist was ably represented and there
is no occasion to hold post mortems,
but rather resolve to do better next
year.
I'VE have the land, the farmers and
the results, we are bound to win, they
can't beat u.s.