Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-04-10
MUSKOGEE FAIR BILL DIES
CHIEF EXECUTIVE GIVES ReA.
SONS FOR FAILURE TO
APPROVE MEASURE.

Oklahoma City.-Gov. Cruce did not
Sign the Muskogee fair bill. As a re-
suit. the measure died natural death
on the stroke NJ IL o'clock midnight,
April I.
In permitting this bill to die. Gov
ernor Cruce declared that to him II
was far Objectionable than
similar measure passed by the legis
iature two years ago. AS the regular
session Of the legislature has gone
into history and no longer exists legal
ly. the governor was not required to
explain his veto to the Legislators now
In extraordinary session. For the pur
pose of explaining his attitude in every
particular, however, Governor Cruce
prepared lengthy message to the
people Of Oklahoma.
Here is what he had to say concern.
ing the Muskogee fair bill:
Two years ago vetoed bill that
had for its purpose the establishment
OF a state fair at Muskogee. At that
time | expressed my opposition to the
bill to be that | was opposed to tie
state going into the business Of con.
Quoting fairs. by the terms of that
bill, the state, through board of man
ayers to be appointed by the governor,
exercised supervision and control of
the fair.
'Iharn Unn6
pie who d. not agree with me upon
this propOt ,t!un and think that In
every state. and especially in agricul.
tural states. there should be q well or
ganized and properly supported state
fair. ! shall not take time to argue
that phase of the question. The pres
ent bill does not undertake to put the
state into the business of conducting
the fair; It entirely relieves the state
from any control or supervision of the
same, and to me Is far more objection
able than the former bill.
by the terms of this bill there Is
established a state fair to be held an
nually at the city of Muskogee.' and
section provides: For the purpose
OF maintaining and managing such
fair and exposition, authority is here
by granted for the organization OF a
corporation under the laws OF the
state OF Oklahoma relative to agricul-
tural fairs, and this embOdes all there
Is In the bill that has any effect upon
the question. The best that can pos.
sibly be said of this measure is that
It ts an attempt to loan to a private
corporation the name OF the state of
Oklahoma for speculative purposes.
The state reserves no right under the
terms of this bill to protect itself
against the use or abuse OF its name.
Under the terms Of this bill any cor
poration could be organized under the
laws OF the state. giving to itself the
name prescribed in the bill; could ad-
vertise to the world this fact; could
upon such permission induce exhibit
Ors to come to Oklahoma and exhibit
their products and stock in contest,
and should there be mismanagement.
the state, under this BILL would have
no authority to undertake to correct
the wrong.
No Reason In This Case.
II can see no greater reason for the
state TO lend It's name by legislative
enactment to private corporation to
conduct fair, than to lend its name
to private corporation engaged In
any other line Of business. II II should
be proposed by legislative enactment
to establish state health resort or q
state grocery company. to be conduct
ed by private corporation there would
be very few who would have the
temerity to stand out in the advocacy
OF such proposition: but hiding be.
hind the argument that state fairs are
not conducted for profit, but for the
development OF state or community,
It is contended that this rule should
not apply In this instance.
"The name of Oklahoma to me is
sacred-too sacred and too dear to the
people of this state to be given use
of to any private corporation. | care
not how honorable may be the men
who will conduct that corporation
The principel involved is the one NOV.
ing cause Of my disapproval of the
measure.
Il understand full well the value OF
a well conducted state fair; realize
the great good that has been accom-.
plished In the western half of Okla.
homa by the Oklahoma City fair;
realize that great good that has al.
ready been accomplished in northeast.
nk1ahn