Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-02-02
DUE CONSIDERATION
Resolution Adopted By Ohio Fair
Boys at Their Meeting in Columbus
January 10th Calling For Creation
Of Office of Secretary of Agricul-
ture and State Fair Commission.

The resolution printed herewith was
adopted by the "Ohio Fair Boys" at
their meeting held January 10th in
Columbus and has been submitted to
the legislature and Governor for en-
actnent into law:
"In view of the growing Importance
Of Agriculture in Ohio, we recommend
that the General Assembly of Ohio
create the office of Secretary of Agri-
culture and establish a strong De-
partment Of Agriculture along lines
similar to the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture, and that of other
states of the Union.
And ALSO, that a State Commission
be created Of ten members, non-par-
tisan, at q salary of not to exceed
$30O.O0 annually for each member,
to act in conjunction with the Secre-
tary Of Agriculture in conducting the
State Fair.
That one-half of the membership
on such Commission be appointed by
the Governor from active Fair Man
ayers, and that others be Farmers,
breeders, Farm Implement Manufac-
turers, or persons closely identified
with the Agricultural interests of
Ohio"
The foregoing was accompanied by
a letter from Myers Y. Cooper presi-
dent of the "Ohio Fair Boys" with the
statement that the resolution reflects
the best judgment of several hundred
representative citizens from all parts
Of Ohio; that a reorganization of the
Ohio Agricultural Department is on
the legislative program; that the
Press of Ohio is asked to give this
resolution, consideration and that it
is hoped that the resolution has suf-
ficient merit to deserve our support.
From our point of view the resolu-
ton as a whole does not have suffi-
cient merit to deserve our support. In
the first place we fail to see the neces-
sity--so far as the welfare and pro-
gress of the agricultural interests of
the state are concerned, for re-or-
ganization Of the Ohio agricultural
department, it might be to the inter-
ests of some politicians who are out
of a Job. We did have a re-organiza-
ton Of this department several years
ago and while it was a great success
in the way of creating offices with the
attendant big salaries, we failed to
note any increase in efficiency or in
benefits to the farmers who pay the
bills.
Agriculture in Ohio is growing in
Importance in the eyes of certain
set Of politicians who are looking for
new sources of revenue to pay for new
jobs. To create the office of Secretary
of Agriculture will add to the ex-
pense of the State Government not
only by the salary of a new State Off
Ger but as well by the salaries of the
corps of clerks, assistants and steno-
graphers that will inevitably be at
tached to such an office. But the
question the average citizen would
like answered is will all this bring a
proportionate benefit to the agricul-
turists Of the State and through them
to the State as a whole? We will
have to be shownl 1t looks to us very
much like that system of political
economy which has issued from the
and, his satellites.
In regard to the proposed Estate
Fair Commission" we note that this
also bears the "Hall mark" Of the
"Cox Schools A "non-partisan'
membership appointed Dy the OOV-
ernor." We asked reliable citizen of
our acquaintance whom we knew to
be some what in touch with State
F@r matters, what he thought about
this matter and he replied that the
management Of the State Fair was
about as rotten as it could be and he
seemed to think that the method pro.
posed in the resolution could not make
things much worse. Now this man may
have been biased, we don't Know, but
We have complied with the request oi
Mr.. Cooper the president of the "OhiC
Fair Boys" organization, and econ
sidered" the resolution.
We think that it would be a gooC
thing for the taxpayers of Fultor
county to do some considering alone
this fine and in inform their repre-
sentative and senator in regard t
their conclusions. 1t might furnish
a live topic for discussion in oranges
farmers Institutes and like organi
zhtions.