The Topeka state journal., 1913-11-08
THE TOPEKA FAIR.


Most encouraging progress u be-
ing made in the sale Of the stock of
the Topeka Fair association for the
purpose OF raising the necessary
funds to wipe out the Indebtedness
against 1t and also provide the means
for doing the preliminary work that
IN demanded to assure a fair for next
year that will even exceed In all Of its
many details the excellent fairs Of
the past two or three years. This
speaks volumes for the civic patriot-
ism and the good sound sense Of the
business men Of Topeka and the agri-
culturists in the immediate neighbor-
hood Of the city who are 30 Interested
in the success OF this undertaking.
There II no agency that advertises
Topeka and this section Of Kansas SO
extensively and valuably an this fair.
Exhibitors come to it from all sections
OF the country, and their impressions
of the magnitude OF the fair and its
attractive environment-one of the
prettiest and most substantial of the
inland cities Of America-are recount
ed by them to the four corners Of the
nation. Its continued success, and es-
stances. means an even bigger feather
in the cap of Topeka. 1t stamps the
city as one Of those wide-awake and
hustling centers where temporary re-
verses are greeted with smiles of op-
timism for the future, and where there
are willing and sufficiently strong
hands to carry the burdens that are
thrust upon them. And the value Of
a reputation Of this character to a
community and its people is Of the
immeasurable variety.
But there must be something moro
than enthusiasm and generosity on
the part Of the business men and 9TH
ers in Topeka and this vicinity who
are of a mind to supply the money
to rehabilitate the finances Of the fair
association, IL the fair is to continue
the fine career that it has been shap-
ing during the past three years. It
needs a strong and capable hand at
its helm to steer its course in the way
1t should go. Such a hand IL pos
sessed by H. L. Cook, who has been
the secretary of the fair association,
and thereby its active and managerial
head. during the period that 1t has
Cook IN not the only competent fair
man In the country. But he has certain
ly demonstrated conclusively that he is
as good as the best OF them. The
development Of the fair in a few short
years from nothing to proportions that
place 1t on an equal footing with the
best of the fairs west Of the Missis-
sippi is a remarkable tribute to his
abilities as a fair builder. to his real
genius in this line. And his most not
able achievement in the management
of the Topeka fair is that he SO per-
fected its organization that the actual
expense of its conduct this year was
more than $1,000 less than it was
the year before. That bespeaks eff
cheney and scientific management
spelled in capital letters. Undoubt-
edly, Mr.. Cook has made a few ene-
mics hereabouts during the time he
has been in charge of the fair. But
that is one Of the unfortunate things
that happens to all strong and cap
able men.
He has resigned as secretary Of the
fair association. Many of the stock
holders of the fair who are promi-
ucHL Al the pEcScuI uOVcAAcut " PAaCc
1t on a firm financial footing are of
the opinion that an effort should be
made to have Mr.. Cook reconsider his
resignation. AS a matter of fact that
should be the unanimous sentiment
among the fair stockholders and the
other officials OF the association. even
though some of them may have had
differences of opinion in the past with
Mr. Cook. With the present fine spirit
behind the fair movement and Mr..
Cook back in the secretary's chair,
the future success of the fair would
be certain.