Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-06-04
lNsISi0

1 cropsf They are q lot Of dudes and
out for good time. and for the
money there IL IN A." But what a
change has come over these same
farmers now that they realize what
them!
And. for that matter. what
change has been made in the state
fairs. They have kept pace with the
progress made in farming methods
and each season add 20 their value
O. the agricultural Interests OF thu
state which they represent. Not only
have atete fair managers shown a
disposition 20 keep pace with the
practical side 81 farming, but they
have grasped the idea that when the
farmers attend these exposltlons they
must be entertained az well a. In
siructed. I have sometimes thought
that they have gone too far with their
free vaudeville features. hut I Grant
them superior knowledge and inltia-
tive ~ to what constitutes entertain
ment. for surely they have given ,ne
subject much thought.
There are. too. features connected
with state fairs that are open to critl-
cism. via. making OF them political
affairs, and n disposition on the part
Of some OF the managers 90 discount
the value Of harness racing and SUBJ
stitute automobile or motorcycle ex-
hlbltions.
State fairs should be divorced from
politics. FOR. like everything else that
the politicians exploit graft In apt
10 creep In and the constant change tn
administrations tends To dispiaco com
potent officials and put Ia their places
men who possess little knowledge OF
such affairs. or their intelligent con-
duet A state fair should be mat
ter of state pride and not administer
ed for political purposes believe |
that there Il disposition being !
shown TO retain capable fair officials |
regardless Of whether they supported !
the successful political candidates or
not. and u II To be hoped that more |
will be done To keep men OF proven /
worth In control of those fairs which |
they have successfully built up.
Now. as To supplanting harness rae
ing and filling w. place with any 9TH
OF form of entertainment Ia tho /
worst possible move that could DO I
made, and has failed utterly when
ever II was resortcd 60. There In no
sort OF amusement that plcases /
state fair crowd so much as horse
racing and the proof OF this state
ment n To be found IN hundreds OF /
successful county fairs ln which har-
ness racing forms the one big attrac-
tive feature. Every phase and angle
Of the farmers life II connected with
horses AS boy he learns TO ride,
49, ne grows up horses form part OF |
his daily life. and naturally he learns
To love, To value and 10 respect them
Hts intimacy with them naturally
causes hinf 10 desire a. scr horses ih I
their supreme and highest estate. and
That is found only In tests OF speed.
Hc may not have the slightest knowl-
edge OF their breeding. and he may
he the most conscientious OF Chris.
lians, hut down deep In his nature Is
that inherent love for horses and a
desire 10 see thcm race. That this
statement II true IL borne out By the
fact that AL the exhibits are practi-
rally deserted az a state fair the mo-
ment the first heat IL called. have
seen this demonstrated time and
'NHAht HffW Anf HIhNu SthuuH packed /
Ia capacity long before the races
races started. and observed men. wo-
men and children lined up along the
stretch. standing for hours Ia the sun
In order to witness tho races. And
al other entertainment has failed TO
provide anything likc parallel at
fraction Tho ,airship. even. became
common Within three years after itR
'areer ms an attraction began. II Ia
itill a drawing card. hut once II IL
'eon II no longer thrills or exoltes. II
axes dare devil like Lincoln
Reachey 30 make tho airahlp exhibit
Ton other than negligible nowadays
iut the trotters and PAGERS still hold
heir own and win continue To do so
~ LONG ~ the American people have
rood red blood In their veins
But Ia return To my farmer friend
hat ! met AZ Detroit We visited the
heep. the hogs, the cattle and the 4,
lOracE and l found him "A variable | /,