Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-30
DR.. j. E. Wilkinson Ardent
in Support Of Exposition
for Southern Iowa
INCLUDES NORTHERN
MISSOURI AS WELL
Recalls How County Meets
Attracted Large Numbers
of People to Ottumwa

One of the boosters for the propos-
ed southern Iowa and northern Mis-
souri, fair and exposition who has ex-
pressed his opinion of the proposition
that has been discussed quite exten-
sively by many residents Of Ottumwa
and this vicinity, is DR.. ]. E. Wilkin-
son.
DR.. Wilkinson was an enthusiast for
fairs In the days of the old county fair
and recalls the crowds that were at
tracted here at that time. The well
known physician has the love for a
good horse that Is shared by many Ot-
tumwans and would like to see track
program resumed here. He, however,
does not believe that the proposed fair
should be organized and operated
along any single line, but rather that
it be made community fair that will
give every activity in the territory in
terested an opportunity to exhibit Its
best products and at the same time
provide program that will serve to
attract crowd and make the venture
a business success.
The veteran physician who has been
In Ottumwa and the community long
enough to be familiar with the things
Of an earlier day as well as those of
today, when asked about the proposed
exposition referred to the old county
fair and stated that the discontinuing
of 1t was not progressive but an act
of retrogression. 1--WE did not progress
by giving up the old fairs, but retro
graded instead and I am convinced
that IL this movement should be organ
lied, many of those interested in the
old fair would be found ready to re-
sumo their interest and with these
there would be a great many more
ready and willing to lend their support
to the project
Attract Missouri Men.
"The idea of making this project
bigger than that Of the old days and
including all Of southern Iowa and
northern Missouri appeals to me" said
he. ''The city and the community are
both bigger today and there Is more
to exhibit and more interested In ex-
hibiting. Why l have numerous ac-
quaintances among representative men
In northern Missouri, in Macon and
vicinity that / am sure will take up
with such a measure and lend their
support toward its success. These
men are bankers and business men
and all of them live men of affairs BY
making the project big enough to in
clude the Missouri territory and thus
have an inter state fair, it seems to
me that we will have started move
ment that can only mean success for
the venture and make Ottumwa the
center for the people of large por-
ton of two states and at the same
time provide a variety of attractions
under one general arrangement that
should bring crowds here each year
and advertise the various products of
the community.
"Ottumwa should go ahead with this
project and provide place and time
for the showing of the agricultural,
commercial, live stock and Industrial
exhibits and should arrange program
including good track events and other
attractions that will serve to entertain
those who attend, for 1t must be made
worth while to see If the crowds are
to be attracted in sufficient numbers
to insure it's success. However l have
no fear on that score if the matter is
handled properly"