The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-07

Victory Show'--the name that has
been unofficially conferred upon the
combined United States governmen,
exhibits to be SHOWN at the state
fair-means all OF that, and consider
ably more. Added to displays of the
fighting equipment with which the
army and navy did their full share in
winning the war, will be displays of
! the improved farming methods which
enabled American farmers to work
toward maximum food production.
and which they are now using to help
feed large part OF the world.
There will be displays, also. of other
government work, that tends toward
the peaceful prosperity and well-be-
ing Sof Uncle Sans hundred million
sons and daughters and nephews and
nieces. Altogether the combined ex-
hibits should give every person who
sees them new idea of the extent and
the importance OF the work being per-
formed by various government agen-
cies. And there are few persons who
can not find in such an exhibit ways
in which he can call for and obtain
the help that the government offers
free of charge to all American citi
Gems.
exhibits are: Agriculture, war. navy,
commerce. interior and labor. The
administrative work Is handled by the
joint committee on government ex-
hibits the chairman of which is Prof.
F.. Lamson-S cribner of the depart
ment OF agriculture, and which has
representatives from all the interested
departments. The exhibits, made UP
In five sets. each practically dupl-
cate Of the others, but with variations
to take account of local conditions in
the sections they are to visit, will be
shown during the fair season on five
circuits made UP OF the larger fairs
and expositions. Each exhibit requires
proper installation
This is the second year for the com
bined government exhibits. They were
shown last year at thirty-three state
fairs and expositions. whose combined
attendance exceeded 10000, 900 peo-
Pile Everywhere the greatest inter
est was manifested by the public. The
government exhibits became the flea
ture show of the fairs and many
mapagers of the expositions declared
that they were responsible for record
breaking crowds of eager and appre-
ciative visitors
This does not mean that the gov
eminent has gone into the show bust
ness" in the usual meaning of that
term The object of the exhibits is
simply to bring the general public into
close contact with the work of the
government so that the public can
make use of it, and to do it in a way
| that will transmit valuable informa-
| ton without exhausting the nervous
energy that Is greatly needed by Wis
! itors at the big expositions.
To give an itemiZed list Of the ex-
hibits would require much space. It
! is possible In this article only to men
ton some of the more outstanding dis
plays.
OF transeendent interest will be an
exhibit OF war trophies captured by
American soldiers on French battle
| fields These trophies, which include
| hundreds OF articles-from a big
| trench mortar to German mess kits
have Just arrived in this country and
have never before been on exhibition.
The captured enemy equipment In
cludes machine guns, anti-tank guns,
hand grenades, helmets OF several
kinds, trench periscopes, smoke pots
and many other articles used by the
Germans in their losing fight to domi-
nate the world. BY their side will be
shown the tools used by the Arneri-
cans in stopping their onslaught
This exhibit also includes hundreds
OF articles--for instance, field guns
machine guns aircraft guns. rifles
trench helmets live carrier pigeons
which saw service on the firing line in
France, wireless telephone apparatus
airplane equipment. gas masks ma
tional and regimental colors. signal
corps equipment and engineering
equipment
A remarkable set OF thirty-twc
enlarged photographs will be shown
by the war department. They were
selected as being the best of the 90, 600
taken by the army photographers In
France. The 10000 were first culled
ITO 200. and then thirty-two were