Billboard advertising (Jan-June 1898)

wmmif u THE BILLBOARD. FAIR DEPARTMENT \i*l%l%l®ll nmi PROCEEDINGS Fairs American Association of and Expositions. | Annual Meeting at Milwaukee—The As- toria Hon It an Accomplished Fact at Last, and Bids Fair to Become a, Great and Grand Organization. ^Through the courtesy of the se rettry H£fli the American Association of Fairs and Expositions, we are enabled to present ^herewith a synopsis of the recent meeting f"field in the club rooms of the Hotel -Piaster, Milwaukee, Wii The meeting was called to order by President R. W. Furnas. Roll call re- vealed the following members present, viz: - ■ Illinois State Fair—A. J. Lovejoy, IRoscoe. Indiana State Fair—Charles Downing, ^Greenfield. Minnesota State Fair—J. E. Coley, Dn- luth; Wm. M. Liggett, St. Paul; D. R. McGinnis, St. Paul. Iowa State Fair—P. L- Fowler, Des Moines. fr Kansas State Fair—Not represented.. Michigan State Fair—Not represented- Nebraska State Fair—R. W. Furnas, Brownville. New York State Fair—Notrepresented. Ohio State Fair and Industrial Exposir vtion—W. W. Miller, Columbus; J. C. Bower, Columbus; J. W. Fleming, Co- '. Iambus. Jv; St Louis Fair—John Hachmeister, St. /Louis, Mo. Wisconsin State Fair—A. L. Vannaman, Milwaukee; T. J. Fleming, Milwaukee; I Arthur Babbitt, Madison. "Upon request of the president the secre- r tary then addressed the meeting as fol- lows : t Mr. President and Gentlemen — There is, perhaps, no enterprise exert- ig such direct influence in the fanning, 'stock raising and manufacturing interests of a state as its Annual State Fair and In- dustrial " Exposition. Object lessons are J the most instructive kind,, and appeal to ithe man, woman or child as no other -lessons can appeal. Their influence is more impressive and lasting, and their result deeper-seated and more profitable. A well managed fair will afford opportu- nities for education by object lessons that reach, out to nearly every avenue of in. dustrial life. Its influence is felt in Kevery direction, and the new ideas, ex- periences, methods and results that are annually promulgated' redound, to the benefit and profit of all classes. There is not a home, a farm, a factory or a com- mercial business that cannot point to some improvement or profit resulting from the holding of the fair. The better the fair, the greater the results to the people and to their industries. So im- Iportant a state institution deserves the 'best and unstinted support of the state. No state can appropriate funds to a better advantage than in aid and encouragement *>f its state fatr, as it is most surely re- turned many fold to the people, who de- rive benefits by being induced and stim- ulated to improvement and new enter- prises that increase their wealth and the wealth of the state, besides supplying comforts and conveniences that improve every condition, of life, make the home b-ighter and the-burdens of toil lighter. The institution also deserves the appre- ciation, influence and co-operation of every progressive citizen, who should interest himself in maintaining the dig- nity of the fair, in its importance as an educator and promoter of enterprise. Fair management is a study in itself. To obtain the best results and merit the approval of patrons and the people gen- erally, the best business methods should prevail, with jnst and uniform rules to govern every department. It is, however, a fact to be lamented that in the manage- ment of the business of the fair we do not, as a rule, bring into practice the same strict and uniform business methods that prevail in the operation of other corporations and enterprises. It is a fact that no two state fairs are alike in their methods of transacting business, rules of admission, entries and other matters with reference to exhibitors and to the general public. A few years ago I visited the fairs of several states and observed the methods of operation. I paid particular attention to the rules and regula ions governing important exhibits, the finances, execu- tive business, rules and methods of ad- mission, and such other matters as affected interests outside of the imme- diate locality in which the fair was held, and I was forced to the conviction that in no business was there such dissimilarity of practice as in the management of fairs in the different states, and this is not to the best interest of fairs, taking other successful enterprises as an example. Large manufacturing and commercial in- dustries have certain rules for business management that are applicable not merely in the locality of any single es- tablishment, but all over the country, wherever the industries are represented the rules of manufacture, finance and trade are practically the same, and people who come in business contact with them know exactly the routine of procedure necessary to consumate their business, because the roles are the same every- where. I have noticed that an exhibitor start- ing in for a circuit of fairs, becomes familiar with the rules of the first one he attends. When he strikes the next fair he is completely at sea, for the rules are entirely different. He says: "Oh, yon fellows don't know how to run a fair here; you ought to go to such a fair; they have this and they have that, and they don't have the other." Well, after the first day or two, or perhaps not until the close of the fair, he becomes familiar with the rules of the second, and upon arriving at the third fair in bis circuit, the first thing he does on proceeding to transact business is to go over the same grounds of complaint he had for his sec- ond fair, and so it is through the entire circuit. This same thing is true of the men who buy our privileges, and others with whom we come in business contact as fair man- agers, and so it will continue until the fairs get together and agree upon some basis for uniformity. This can be done through our association, if the fairs will take an interest in its membership and send delegates to the annual meeting to consult together over matters that affect the interest of all state fairs alike The American Association of Fairs and Expositions, as now constituted, can do a power of good in fair management, but it must have the hearty co-operation of its membership, which should include all the important state fairs that have here- tofore been c unected with it and others that desire to be benefited by concerted action. The annual meeting of the asso- ciation brings together representative fair managers, fresh from their fields of labor and ripe in the experiences through which they have passed from year to year. An interchange of practical experience from such men must result in the good of all, while a combination of their ideas of methods will give to each member plans : for operation that will not only make our methods of operation more uniform, but more protective and more profitib'e. I might cite many instances of excel- lent results that have been brought about by deliberations such as our association affords. An association formed in 1880, which eventually merged into this now American Association, brought about, through the determined effort and con- certed action of its members, some of the best and most profitable reforms in the fair management practiced at this time. To the judgment and decision of that association is due the abolition of pre- miums on agricultural implements and other articles of manufacture, that has not only saved the state fairs thousands of dollars, but has been decidedly accept- able to manufacturers, whose attentions are now devoted to practical demonstra- tions for convincing the public of the merits of their particular manufactures, and not as formerly, almost wholly to simply securing the premium. These ex- hibits must now stand upon their merits, as judged by an interested public The manufacturer is benefited, the fair is benefited and the public who seek to use are more interested and get a wider scope of information in their selections. Another reform introduced by this early association was that of discouraging the exhibition of common animals brought to the fair for the chance of sale, and which loaded up our pens and stalls to the exclusion of superior and pure bred animals, the breeding and introduction of which it was the object of the fair to ' promote. The reform in this particular was introduced by adopting the system of entrance fees in the live stock depart- ments. S ane of the fairs, however, pre- ferred the system of stall rents, but the result was the same. Worthless animals that had no show of a premium would not pay the fees, and it was only a year or two until the whole character of our live stock exhibits was changed, and there was presented for competitive exhibition only the choicest animals and herds of the various classes of pure breeds; ani- mals that did credit to the exhibitor and whose blood was worthy of introduction, and attracted increased attention on the part of fair visitors generally; not only this very important achievement, but the fees received brought another source of revenue that has been very acceptable. Many other improvements have been put into use through a knowledge gained by interchange of experiences and the recommendations of these association meetings, and many m re can certainly be br.»ught about. There are many vexed questions in fair management that are still unsolved, but that can be solved if we act together, and we can best act to- gether by keening up this American As- sociation of Fairs, and making it more useful and more potent in molding opin- ion and guarding the interests of its. membership. President Furnas urges me to solicit the active interest of every member, and to especially urge to action the members who have become dormant. At the next annual meeting, to be held in Omaha, we hope for the beginning of a new era that shall stamp the association as one of the important fixed bo-lies in connection with. the manpgement of State Fairs and In- dustrial Expositions, and an active inter- est on the part of a full membership. A. program Mill be prepared that will em- body discussions ou several important, subjects that affect fair management, and the president will assign representatives to prepare papers to be read and pub- lished in the general proceedings of that meeting. This advanced work will require ex- pense, and members who have not already do ae so are requested to send in their annual membership fees as per the rules. Some are in arrears for the past two- years. Let us make a strong effort for a. successful and profitable association and. a grand meeting when next held. Messrs. J. M. True and Jesse Stout, representing the new Wisconsin State- Board of Agriculture, that will assume legal existence on January 1, 1898, were present, and upon motion of Mr Down- ing were ex'ended the privileges of the meeting, except to vote. - - On motion, the reading of the minutes of the last annual meeting were dis- pensed with. After a brief address by President Furnas, reports were called for. Secretary T. J. Fleming submitted the following, which was approved and or- . dered placed upon the minutes : • To the Honorable, the American Associa- tion of Fairs and Expositions : Your secretary begs leave to submit the following report: The amount of money in my hands at the close of last year was $76.45, since which two states, Nebraska and Missouri, have paid $10.00 each, making total re- receipts during year $96.45, against which, an order for $20.00 in payment of publi- cation of report, leaving $76.45, for which amount I hold Treasurer Liggett's re- ceipt. T. J. Fleming. Treasurer Wm. M. Liggett submitted the following report, which, on motion, was approved and placed on the minutes: RECEIPTS. Nov. 12, 1896. Balance on hand S76 45 Dec. 5, 1896. Rec'd annual dues, Neb 10 00 May 3,1897. Rec'd annual dues, St. Louis.. 10 00 Total — .Ijjti 45 EXPENDITURES Feb. 9, 1897. Paid H. O. Rozall Mfg. Co..„..$20 00 Oct. 29,1897. Balance on haud..._. 7645 Total „ J06 4s Oct. 29, 1897. Balance in treasury..... —176 45 Respectfully submitted, Wm. M. Liggett, Tress. ■ IBiSp THE BILLBOARD. THE BILLBOARD HAS BEEN DULY APPOINTED AND ACCREDITED THE OFFK - ORGAN OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FAIRS AND EXPOSITONS On motion, 1 he secretary was directed t,> notify all delinquent members and re- vest the payment of dues for 1896 and j.' : 97, as per rules. On motion, it was agreed to recom- mend for the fairs of 1898 dates corre- sponding with the dates on which held in 1S97, and which would be as follows : New York—August 22 to 27. Ohio—August 29 to September 3. Michigan—September 5 to 10. Minnesota—September 5 to 10. Indiana—September 12 to 17. Iowa—September 12 to 17. Wisconsin—September 19 to 24. Nebraska—September 19 to 24. Illinois—September 26 to October 1. St. Louis—October 3 to 8. The secretary was instructed to notify members not present of the dates agreed upon for recommendation. Mr. J. W. Fleming moved that the dates made for New York, Ohio and Michigan be subject to change, so as to give Ohio one week later, if agreeable, and that the matter be referred to the fairs named, which motion prevailed. Mr. Fleming, of Ohio, submitted the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, the president to be one mem- ber and the chairman, to wait upon the Traffic Associations for the purpose of urging that no discrimination be made against class horses in the matter of freight rates to and' from the fairs, and also to urge a low passenger rate, the hotel expenses of the committee, in at- tending meetings of the associations named, to be paid by this fair association. The committee, as constituted, consists of R. W. Furnas, chairman, Nebraska; W. W. Miller, Ohio; J. Irving Pearce, Illinois; D. R. McGinnis, Minnesota. At this point in the proceedings the subject of complimentary tickets was sug- gested, and considerable time'was spent in discussing the matter. The president called upon each state to report its system of complimentaries, the number issued and the manner of distribution. On motion, a rec ss was taVen until 8 o'clock p. m., at which hour the associa- tion again met and proceeded to business. The president announced as the first thirg in order the election of officers. The election resulted as follows: President—R. W. Furnas, Brownville, Nebraska. Vice President—A. J. Lovejoy, Roscoe, Illinois. Treasurer—Wm. M. Liggett, St. Paul, • Minnesota. Secretary—James W. Fleming, Colum- bus, Ohio. ' The president announced the following standing committees: . Executive Committee—W. D. Hoard, Ft. Atkinson, Wis.; P. L. Fowler, Des Moines, la.; E. W. Randall, Hamline, Minn. Committee on Program—Jas. W. Flem- ing, Columbus, 0.;.C. F. Kennedy, In- dianapolis, Ind.; G. Howard Davison, Millbrook, N. Y. Committee on Transportation—Same as announced to wait upon the Traffic Asso- ciation. Mi. Fleming, from the Committee on Program, submitted the following, which was n-reed to : The committee recommend for discus- sion at the next annual meeting of this body the following subjects : 1. What can we do to secure uniform- ity in rules of admission ? 2. Should live stock sales be inaugu- rated on State Fair grounds, under the auspices of the fair management ? 3. The right of exhibitors. 4. What is the best system of dairy tests? 5. What privileges should be granted on fair grounds, and how should they be controlled ? 6. How can we reduce the issue of complimentaries, and would it be to the best interests to abolish the compliment- ary system ? Constitution and* Roles. ARTICLE I. ORGANIZATION. Section 1. This organization shall be known as "The American Association of Fairs ond Expositions." ARTICLE II OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION. Sec. I. The objects and purposes of the As ociation shall be to maintain, en- courage and advance the agricultural, stock breeding, mechanical and manufac- turing interests as represented at the fairs and expositions, to acquire and dissemi- nate information advantageous to these purposes and to generally co-operate in vfe'*&ft»? ipllliilisi ..fV.?:■•> :-.-■«•.'• mm - ■ J. W. FLEMING. On motion of Mr. Miller, Section 1 of Article IV of the Rules was amended so as to read October in.stead of November, thus providing that the annual meeting be held between the first day of October and the thirty-first day of December, sub- ject to the call of the president and sec- retary. President Furnas extended a-cordial invitation to the association to hold its next annual meeting in Omaha, Neb. On motion, it was agreed that the an- nual meeting of 1S98 be held in the city of Omaha sometime during the Trans- Mississippi Exposition. Receipts-^-St. Louis member, $.10.00. On motion, adjourned to meet at the call of the president and secretary the furtherance of the mutual interests of its members . ARTCLE HI. MEMBERSHIP. Sec. i. The membership shall be com- posed of Boards of Societies', managing St*,;. Fairs or Expositions throughout the United States and Canada, who shall be represent, d at the meetings of this asso- ciation by five duly authorized delegates, . and each society represented shall have five votes. Sec. 2. The membership fee shall be $to per annum, payable at each annual v eeting of the association. Sec. 3. Application for membership shall be made in writing to the secretary, and admissions shall be by ballot at the 12 annual meeting, a majority of the votes cast being necessary to elect. Sec 4. During the interval between annual meetings, the secretary, on the approval of the president, is authorized to receive members, subject to the rules and subject to final approval by the asso- ciation. ARTICLE IV. ANNUAr. MEETING. Sec. 1. The annual meeting of the as- sociation shall be held between the first day of October and the thirty-first day of December, subject to the call of the pres- ident and secretary, for the transaction of all proper business, admissions to mem- bership and election of officers. ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES. Sec. x. The officers of the association shall consist of a president, rice-presi- dent, secretary and treasurer, who Shall be elected by ballot at each annual meet- ing for a term of one year, or until their successors are elected and qualified, a majority of the votes cast being necessary to a choice. Sec 2. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings of the association, and for the smiaal meet- ing he shall prepare and deliver an address, reviewing the work of the asso- ciation and presenting soch facts and suggestions as are pertinent to the object* of the association and the good of the membershir He shall decide all points of order, appoint all commi tees and per- form such duties as generally devolve upon a presiding officer. Sec 3. The vice-president, in the ab- sence of the president, shall perform the duties pertaining to the office of presi- dent . * Sec 4. The treasurer shall be the cus- todian of the funds of the association, and disburse the same on the order of the secretary, approved by the president, making report of his transactions at the annual meeting. Sec. 5. The secretary shall keep an ac- curate record of the proceedings of the association, and prepare for and supervise the publication of such matter as may, be provided for, or that may be ordered by the association. He shall receive all moneys coming into the association and turn the same over to the treasurer, taking his receipt therefor. He shall keep an account of money received and orders issued on the treasurer, and report the same; at the annual meeting. He shall provide for the annual meeting, at a reasonable compensation, a stenogra- pher, who shall prepare a stenographic report of the proceedings for such use as the association may direct The compen sation to such stenographer to be paid from the funds of the association. - ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES. Sec. 1. There shall be appointed the following standing committees, to be com- posed of three members each: Executive Committee, Committee on Transportation, Committee on Program. Sec. 2. The standing committees shall consider such matters as may be of inter- est to the [association and its individual members, &nd report at the annual meet- ing; and shall also consider such matters as may be, by motion or the roles, re- ferred to them, and report as directed. ■-■■■'i'^i ;