Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-25
BIGGER, BETTER FAIR
FOR CENTRAL MAINE

( Wednesday, January %. was really one
Of the biggest days that ever happened
around here. and would have been the
very biggest thing in the public eye--it
the Austrians had not been making such
a fuss with their peace and food demands.
and the Germans had not been so badly
scared with the fear that they are to be
POLITICALLY isolated and the allies had
lot been so busy getting ready to make
all Germans good Germans-but for all
these things, little old Waterville. Maine,
would have been the biggest place on the
map, and, as we said before. Wednesday
would have been the biggest day, because
Of what happened at Waterville. 1t was
there that the Central Maine Faif directors
held the most important meeting in the
associations history and adopted resolu-
tons which promise not only great thingo
in the line of State Fair development, but
for agricultural development and general
prosperity to the State.
: And SD it is concluded. that if Hon. Har-
vey D. Eaton can keep hissmunitions fac
tories at top speed. and the Hon. W. il
Thompson can maintain the productivity
Of our agricultural forces. and if the Hon.
Geo. $. Hobbs, second vice president of
the Maine Central Railroad can keep tho
lines clear, and the financial appropria,
tons provided for, why. then, Central
Maine is bound to hold fair that will be
the real thing in fairs, as they understand
fairs out where fairs are the big spread
q the year.
! However muc!, we may joke about 1t. it
is no joke: but the more we joke about It,
the more we shall think about. it. and TO
think about this proposition is to realize
that with such men as are now behind IT
ard pushing. the movement the sugges-
ton for a great State Fair at the Central
Maine grounds. under a new declaration
OF principles. with educational features,
patriotic pageants, and livestock entirely
doing away with fake: shows gamblers,
sWindlers and the usual midway froth;
must attract the attention and inspire the
confidence of the worthwhile people Of
Maine y .i~s
The new magma charter of the Central
Maine Fair. introduced by Hon. W. J..
y Thompson of South China. master of the
Maine State Grange. and unanimously
adopted by the directors. reads as follows:
The Resolutions
1.-The directors of !, the Contra, Maine
fair wish to put ON record AT this,meetng
an expression of:iheir faith .irr-the under
taking. ST -
\ I'VE believe good beyond measure can
be dore The people of Maine by such an
institution wisely administered on brs q I
lines and liberal principles.
we believe the people of Waterville
have an opportunity to assist at the be
ginning of the new enterprise and. to rem
e der service which will be appreciated and
rewarded in large measure as. soon as its
worth is demonstrated and understood
n Eventually hundreds of thousands Of
dollars can profitably be spent but we are
not ready and it can not be done at once
/ For this year we believe the ownership
! row vested fnythe Central Maine Realty
Co. should W. turned over to the Far
association and at least $4,000 in addi-
ton shDtlfd be raised and expended in the
most immediate necessities. If this is
done we believe the whole State VIII
\ realize the earnest purpose behind the
movement and accord it the recognition
and support it deserves.
IN the conduct of the fair We reco.-
nIze the Importance of entertainment and
hope to see hereafter more music, sport
and recreation than ever before. but In
this we believe that fakes immoral shows
and swind1ing devices have no part 1t is
our settled purpose to exclude all sucn
from the ground. Agricultural contests
ana displays OF every sort and patriOtiC
demonstrations having reference to our
country's present hour of need, saoufo DE-,
especially encouraged for our next exhibit
ton.
TO this great undertaking we pledge
our best efforts and bespeak the support
Of every citizen of Maine"
\ The Meeting.
President Harvey Eaton read let
ter from officials of the National Jersey
associat ton. which had been asked to do
nate prizes at the Central Maine fair OF
1917. The reply was that there were too
many small fairs in Maine. under which
circumstances they could offer no assist
ance, but that they stood ready to assist
and assist literally one good cattle show.
Mr.. Eaton said that what was now
wanted was4to enlarge facilities for the
Central Maine fair. The fret thing was
to connect. the Waterville, Fairfield &
Oakland electric railroad and the Maine
Central railroad with. the grounds by a
system of sidings. He appointed rs \