230 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



very gladly gamble on it to the extent of two or three thousand dol- 

 lars, but I am asking those who would like to give a picture and 

 biography of that man, to give a subscription for that book for ex- 

 actly what it will cost, and I estimate that it will run between ten 

 and fifteen thousand dollars some place. That doesn't mean that 

 the history of the fairs will not be taken care of if the picture is 

 not run in there, because I intend to have every fair in that book, 

 whether accompanied by a picture or not. 



The thing I would absolutely ask you not to do is to carry away 

 the idea that I am going to make any money out of it. I don't 

 intend to make anything out of this. Remember, it is almost im- 

 possible to convince people that we have as many county and district 

 fairs in this country as we do have, and there isn't a single line in a 

 single library in the United States that I have been able to discover 

 about it. It is the largest institution of its kind in the world that 

 is absolutely without an authentic history, and what I want to do is 

 to prepare a volume that anybody who cares to may refer to it and 

 get information on the subject. And a copy of this volume will be 

 placed in the hands of every senator in Washington and also a copy 

 for the secretary of agriculture, and I want to try to put something 

 in their hands that will be easy to handle. 



The Chairman: I think Mr. Sloan has undertaken a task that 

 will be invaluable to the fairs of this United States and Canada. 

 Mr. Sloan has stated briefly the facts of the case. We have no his- 

 tory on which we can depend. We have no data to which we can 

 refer. We are absolutely helpless along these lines, and Mr. Sloan 

 has undertaken a task that will be of great good to the fairs of ihis 

 country if he carries it out, and I hope he does. 



I want at this time to suggest to the resolution committee to get 

 together within the next hour and prepare the resolutions. In your 

 resolutions I want you to take up and discuss the matter of grant- 

 ing licenses to concessioners through the attorney general of the 

 state — whether or not you want to recommend it. 



Now, we have with us this afternoon a man whom we all respect 

 and love. I do, at least, and I believe the rest of you do, John C. 

 Simpson of Springfield, Massachusetts, and I want Mr. Simpson to 

 give us a few remarks. 



John C. Simpson, Springfield, Mass. : I don't know what Mr. 

 Stanberry wanted to disturb my peace and quiet in the back part 

 of the room for this afternoon. You men are here having your 



