The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-05
COUNTY FAIR DISCUSSED.
SEVERAL SPEAKERS MAKE IN.
TERESTING TALKS ON VALUE
OF LOCAL EXHIBITION
Committees to BE Appointed I'm Each
Township to Seek Subscriptions for
County Fair-Orangeburg Plan
AdOpteti-Interesting Talk Made by
Commissioner Watson.

The mass meeting in the interest Of
in the court house Tuesday morning
was we'll attended considering the
fact that this is such excellent wealth
er for the farmers to be working their
crops. Several interesting talks were
made by the speakers and interest
was shown by the farmers and busi-
ness men present in the project.
The meeting was called to order by
Mr.. r. B. Belser, chairman Of the
department Of rural relations of the
Chamber Of Commerce, who in a short
talk stated the object Of the meeting.
1t was to raise subscriptions for the
county fair and to arouse interest in
the project. There were several rea-
sons why a county fair would be a
good thing for Sumter County which
the speaker pointed out briefly: 1t
would stimulate interest IN agricul-
ture in the county among the farm
ers who would compete at the fair;
it would give the people Of the coun-
ty a fitting idea of the products of
the county; it would extend the in
terest in the prizes offered by the
banks of the city; it would help to
encourage diversification of farming;
and by its exhibits and other features
it would through the press advertise
the county and its products.
Mr.. Hughes, secretary of the fair
association Of Orangeburg county,
spoke on the manner in which the
Orangeburg County Fair had been
made pronounced success 1.-The
fair must have the interest and back
ing OF the whole community or il
speaker. Unless the farmers were
interested and co-operated with the
town, the fair would be failure" Mr..
Hughes closed his remarks by saying
financial success and he could see no
reason why Sumter county should not
also have a successful county fair
Mr.. ID. F. Efird, secretary of the
south Carolina State Fair Association,
was the next speaker. He stressed
the importance of the fair from an
educational, commercial and social
view point. He was especially impress
sive in pointing out the many social
advantages which would result from
county fair, which could not pos
sibly in the State Fair. He pointed
out the fact that everybody should
cooperate in making the fair sue
cess. saying that the fair should be
run on a plan which was best for
the majority.
Mr.. r. E. Gravel, one of the in
dustrial agents of the Southern Rail-
way Company, pointed out the fact
that there was in some places an an
tagnoism between the country and
the town, which the county fair would
tend to do away with. ITO advertise
the county" he said, 1--WE must pro-
duce some important products or some
important results which were desired
by all Of the citizens Of the county"
to do, we will never be paid for more
than we do" was a motto which the
speaker advocated in securing the
| county fair and in securing the as
| sistance Of the people in raising sub
scriptions. He pledged the assistance
of the Southern Railway in whatever
lines would be helpful i'm getting up
the fair.
Commissioner Watson spoke last
and made an enthusiastic address
He told of the successful county fairs
in other States and saw no reason
why county fair here could not be
made even more successful, where
there were so many natural advan-
tages. He pointed out the fact that
the last time he was in the court
house, the place was more than filed
" crowd wishing to hear politics.
Today the crowd was very small. when
the occasion for the assembly was
many times as momentous as il was
on the former occasion. He deplored
this running away of the people af-
ter thi1Ss that were not necessities,
and their lack of interest in those
things which should be of vital in
terest. The crowd, however, was
larger than he had expected to see.
as 1t was such good weather for the
farmers to be at work, and he realized
the Importance of farm work, at the
right time.
The people of Sumter county were
beginning to see and work those
things that are of worth and tend to
the upbuilding of the county He