Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-03-05
THE FARMERS CONVENTION.

THE FARMERS CONVENTION.
The 46th annual convention of the farm
ers Of Montgomery county, held on We'd
nesday Of last week at Sandy Spring and
attended by a goodly number of persons,
passed resolution opposing the bill now
before the legislature separating the offices
of clerk to the county commissioners and
county treasurer and providing for the
election of the treasurer by the people.
The opposition is based upon the belief
that the enactment of such law would
not only decrease the efficiency OF admin
istraton, but would mean additional ex-
pense.
The convention also placed itself on
record as being opposed to the creation of
State racing commission, as proposed by
bills introduced in the legislature, and as
favorine the repeal of all laws in the State
which permit betting on races.
A resolution was also adopted opposing
the bill pending in the legislature, author
izing bond issue of $4,000 for new
public school buildings and other school
purposes unless absolutely necessary.
The strict enforcement of the Volstead
act was urged in resolution, and another
resolution adopted requested the county's
representatives in the legislature to favor
the enactment of law curtaiing the
powers Of the State Tax Commission SO
far, at least. as reassessing property just
sold at the value indicated by the price
paid.
The convention was presided over by
William John Thomas and John E. Mum
caster was secretary. Gray Silver, Wash
ington representative of the National Fed
Grafton of Farm Bureaus, gave talk on
farm BUREAUS Frederick Haller. Of Sandy
Spring, discussed The Relation Of Country
Producer and City Consumer" Mr.. Hol-
man, of National Farm Bureau Fedora
ton, told what he thought Of the outlook
for the farmer for the next ten years. and
John E. Muncaster read a paper on How
to Make Our County Fair Fit the County
Farmer"
Mr.. MUNcAsTER'S PAPER In FULL.
Some thirty years ago. in 1889, to be
exact, | was young fellow just out of
school. lying around home doing nothing
but sitting down to three meals day. The
secretary of our county fair resigned some
time in May and my father, who was a
member of the board Of management at
the time had me put into the place with
out asking me anything about it. That
was the first time the accident happened.
The second time was few weeks ago.
took it then just as did the second time
and held it a good many years with nu-
merous near defeats and many turns to
keep myself in. but great many more
manipulations to get the pay raised from
$50 a>yea- to enough to pay for the work
In this never succeeded, but buckled to
with the enthusiasm of youth. George W
Cramer, who was secretary Of the Frederick
fair at that time, always called us that
bunch Of boys in the Office.
The fair grounds at that time were one
of the incest picnic grounds in the United
States. Magnificent forest trees occupied
at least one-half Of the grounds, and the
only building that INSTRUCTED the view was
the half of the exhibition hall now used
for fruits and vegetables. The poultry
was housed in two long coops, and old mar
nosl 81 n
up with a collection Of nondescripts thai
Z. would get by with the crowd all the time
. and with the judges some Of it. There
were a couple Of rows of zigzag stalls fol
cattle. which were usually occupied by the
tame breeds, like Jerseys, while all the
Z. rest we're put in a lot of high square pens
l and sometimes they would jump out o
: them. Rooted with the arch Of heaven
] no one could complain of the ventilation
but when it rained-let us not speak of it
The four or five owners of race horses tool
up most Of the fifty stables. with four o.
. five left for heavy stations. The rest O
the horses on exhibition were tied TO oper
, stalls or to trees and fences except wher
in the parade. The track was not quit,
. one-third of a mile. The tradition is tina
, E. j. Hall got in his buggy and drove on
around amongst the trees when they laiC
:, the track of. and the grass was scraped Of
!, with something or other where his bugg
- tracks we're. 1t had no particular shape
not curved any at all. and was not fence
e on the inside. Sometimes a driver. II he di
e not have room to pass. would make shot
e cut across the inheld. but there was lot
y Of fun in racing over it.
ID There were few plank seats on tn
g hill above the present grandstand an
;e some more around the speakers stand.
l. they we're all full. there was plenty {
10 room in the carriages. The secretary
l. Office had rail across ii to keep the crow
D. off the man who was writing. 1t was ju'
lg in good arms length, so that il the write
did not wait on people fast enough the
D. would attract his attention by yanking b
lie collar or sleeve. and when there were seN
J. eral impatient ones il was hard to get any
}. thing done. There is so much conserva
K ism in this county that when had pa
/; tition put in several persons told me
n. would be bad for the fair because peop
{. did not like to be cut off from the clerk
l. They did not seem to mind 1t though an
! could wear my clothes a second day to
!; Visits to other progressive fairs mao
s. ours look backwoods, or bushy, as the faki
c. call ii. The first move was srandstan
II took two years Of talking to get 1t. an