ANNUAL MEETING. 95 



next week found me in Terre Haute, the week following in Illi- 

 nois, the next week in Eastern Illinois, and the following week in 

 Ohio. That caused me a great deal of inconvenience, and the 

 result was that some of the fairs in our own neighborhood were 

 without swine exhibits at all. 



Another subject that always troubles all fair managers is the 

 concessions allowed on the ground. Even if there are no objection- 

 able or fake shows, the arrangement of the outfits often mars the 

 beauty of the surroundings. I have had more experience in this 

 line than in any other single line of work on the fair ground. I 

 believe there is itiore in it than is usually thought of in connection 

 with the fair. I think a rule should be made to never admit ob- 

 jectionable shows. Few people go to see the shows, and the few 

 paltry dollars received for the concessions are as nothing com- 

 pared with the patronage the shows destroy. Gambling of any 

 description should be prohibited. Some of the little innocent 

 looking, ten-cent shows we find on the grounds take hundreds of 

 dollars from their patrons. If gambling must be on the grounds, 

 get a straight-out hieronymus and let it go as such. But I can 

 see no justification for allowing anything of the kind en the 

 grounds. I have not allowed the cane rack, shooting gallery or 

 things of that kind on the State Fair Grounds, and have even gone 

 so far as to not allow them to sell a glass of lemonade and draw a 

 prize package for the money. I believe this policy should be fol- 

 lowed out at all of our fairs. Then there are many concessions 

 that are sold much too cheaply. There are privileges at the State 

 Fair Ground that I have sold for almost ten times as much the last 

 year as I did the first year. Some of these people invest less than 

 a hundred dollars and clear from two to four himdred at each fair. 

 Usually privilege people have the money in their pockets to pay 

 for their privileges in advance, and if fairs will unite and adopt 

 a rule requiring cash in advance, and then enforce it, it will not 

 only give better returns, but will get a better class of concessions. 

 I have found that the only way to get along with these people is 

 to make all your rulings and then enforce them to the letter. On 



