Billboard advertising (Jan-June 1899)

if 1I 14 THE BILLBOARD r ; 1 If Sis I? 1 H fit si PROCEEDINGS Of ths Annual Conven'i jn of the American Association of Fun and Expositions, Held in Omaha, Neb., Oct. 25 and 26, I89S. (Continued from February Issue.) 'come a question of ten tickets or a thousand ana this can only be controlled by well-ue- nned limits, ana corresponding instructions to managers. Mr. John M. True, of the Wisconsin State Boaid of Agriculture then presented the fol- lowing paper: HOW CAN WE REDUCE THE ISSUES OP COMPLIMENTAKIES. AMD WOULD IT BE WISE TO ABOLISH THE SYSTEM? The courtesies of life produce its happiest incidents. In private I if e f the generous shar- ing with a friend,, whatever pleasure or en- joyment comes in our way, is a distinctive lnolcation of a. broad and liberal spirit. But in affairs of a public character, where the interests involved allect the many, and where private rights are abridged, courtesies can only be properly extended to those whose * services and claims are of a public nature. The issuing of complimentary tickets by Fair Associations is the natural outgrowth of the spirit of good fellowship, but has de- generated into an abuse of its original intent, which is causing annoyance and embarrass- ment without end to most fair managers in the country. How far it may be proper for bodies of men representing the general interests of a State to grant special privileges to parties who claim the same, or what constitutes a suffi- cient basis for such recognition, also how far policy may enter into these considerations, are questions for us to discuss. The wording of the subject assigned to me for discussion more than intimates that the popular verdict is, that the issue of. compli- mentaries to our fairs has exceeded its proper limiV and even questions -whether the evil may not be best met by a complete abolition of the custom. While I do not clearly see the way to the endorsement of a. complete giving up of the practice, I do believe that certain definite rules governing the matter should be estab- lished by all State boards—rules so clearly drawn as to render comparatively easy the handling of this question by the management of fairs. For instance, suppose complimentaries to be furnished State officials, members of the Legislature, representatives of the press of the State in general, and of such outside pap- ers as may attend the fair: the President and Secretary of State Dairyman's Association; State Horticultural Society, and other organ- izations closely allied to interests with which the fair deals. It may be advisable to.allow each member of the board a limited number of tickets to be given out as he may see fit. In the recognition of State officials, let the board determine whether this shall mean heads of departments, or whether it shall in- clude assistants, clerks, typewriters and jan- itors. This is no easy matter to handle, especially when your office is located in the capitol building, and you are brought in eontact with all these parties; and in our experience, con- trary to geed judgir • it. and even without shadow of justice, the list has been extended to take in the complete outfit- There are good reasons why State officials should be recognized. They, with you, are representatives of the State's'interests. You are. in your work, often placed under certain obligations, on account of official courtesies, and It is politic to sustain the most friendly relations to them. Members of the Legislature are also rep- resentatives of the people of the State, and as such are entitled to recognition, while policy would dictate that courtesies extended to these men of influence and power, are prop- erly bestowed. The Agricultural Fair must hav- the notice and publicity gained through the State press. This recognition may be gained as the re- sult of a purely business transaction, where- by for a certain sum of money, a given amount of advertising is furnished; but in our experience, the country press especially, gives good returns for complimentaries given, whether accompanied by a payment of money or not. The city press, with which you must more largely advertise, if your fair be held near some large city, is not so easily handled. In addition to the liberal amount of money paid, large requirements for complimentaries are made, exceeding sometimes, it would seem, the entire force of its office. You must have the support and good will of this city press, not only before, but dur- ing the progress of the fair, and hence you sometimes feel that you have been bled be- yond the requirements of propriety or de- cency. This matter can be best handled by an ar- rangement by the fair management, or its press agent, when arranging for advertising, by limiting the number of tickets to be given each paper. In these, and other like cases, avoid the in- ividual applicant, and deal only with the •esponsible head or representative. Representatives of the press who visit your fair in the capacity of reporters should be given all facilities for pleasant and complete work. Among these should be complimentary tickets embracing all privileges under the control of the fair. The most friendly relations should be pus- tained between the State Board or Agriculture and the County Agricultural organizations, as well as all other bodies recognized by the State, that are engaged in promoting interests that in turn are recognized by State fair man- agements; and clearly, if complimentary tickets are given, the proper officers of such organizations should be favored. It has been the custom in Wisconsin to com- pliment the Mayor and other leading officers of the city of Milwaukee.( Inasmuch as dur- ing the fair we receive police protection and other courtesies from this source. But here again, as in the case of State officials, comes la the question of limit, and it teems to be- The most trying candidate for special favors is the man who arops into the onlce just be- fore or auring tne iair to impress his good wishes for your success, in every named par- ticular, but who lingers to inquire whether you are giving out complimtntuiies, ana when one is hanaea him for himself ana laay, blanaly asks that that it be made ••ladies" or ••rani- ily;' and he even turns bade , when you think you are rid of him, to inquire whether this ticket ••is good lor the grand stand." This fellow is not an object of chaiiiy. He would be terribly indignant at such an inti- mation. He will ride in his carriage to your fair next aay, but ne has politely robbed you of five dollars that should be in the treasuiy vOf the boaid. ^"Another character is becoming quite com- mon—the collector of complimentai ies. he brings with him tickets of the past ten State fairs that he has visited as a dead-head, and while he cares little for attending the fair he wishes to ado to his treasured stock of samples. I suppose that in different localities classes of troublesome applicants of favors vary. With us the railroad men are regular and persistent petitioners for favors. There may be grounds for making these claims in some States, but as In our case few courtesies are extended to the Board of Agri- culture by most of the railroads, we fail to recognize the strength of the one-sided obli- gation. 1 am of the opinion that the proper contrcl of the issue of complimentaries can only be gained by the adoption, by .State Boards, of _iules dettning to whom these courtesies are to be extended, and then by a rigid enforce- ment of the same. . I say rigid, because a deviation from any rule establishes a precedent that overthrows your whole system. It is all-important that these decisions be fair, reasonable, and just, established upon premises that commend them to fair minded people. Most persons will submit gracefully to rea- sonable requirements, if satisfied that all are being treated alike, and especially so if no personal, social or political pull is mis- trusted. Let the IJr be considered a State institu- tion, backed and supported by the State lor purposes of public benefit. That primarily the rights of all citizens of the State are equal, so far as the privileges and benefits of the fair are concerned, and that special favors will only be granted on account of position held or 'service rendered. Mr. Pearce: I would like to ask Colonel True a question. In his remarks with re- gard to passes to railroad people, are the rail- ^•road people asking for what they are not en- titled lor Mr. True: In reply I would say that In our dealing with the railroads it seems to me it is a purely business transaction. We have es- tablished an event that brings a great amount of business to them and upon which we sup- pose they realize handsomely in the manage- ment of their business. We have asked the railroads running in our State to extend to us favors as a State Board of Agriculture and only in one or two instances have we been able to get them. We think turn about fair play. If their business system makes it im- proper to extend courtesies to us,' our business system should, make it improper to extend courtesies to them. Mr. Grimes: In my sixteen years' experi- ence in fairs, this argument of complimentary tickets has been brought up, perhaps at every meeting. I have been silting here thinking and listening to the gentlemen. Their argu- ments are all good for their respective lo- calities. Each locality requires a different system. There can be no system that will govern every fair as to complimentaries. it Js a subject that has worried treasurers during the lifetime of fairs and it has never been systematically settled. If this body of men can systematically settle this question they will go down to posterity as being the brain- iest men that ever came together. We can argue and appoint committees and discuss this question and It resolves itself down to this point—It will be just where you started in. You will make no changes whatever. The Secretary of each association is consid- ered smart enough to do as his constituents wish; in other words there is more policy used in the distribution of complimentary tickets than there is in anything else that I know of. I have been in occasion to use them. I have actually known men to spend five dol- lars in sociability with different members to get one fifty cent complimentary ticket. Why Is it? It is just like the American people, they want something for nothing. I tell you. you can discuss this matter ail day to-day and you will be no better off. The best thing this body can do is to drop it. Mr. Harriman: There is a matter that has not been discussed that seems to me import- ant. Possibly you may have discussed It at some of your former meetings. If so I have not heard of the results, and that is with re- par-? to inducing the railroeds to sell a feir ticket With each low rate. We persuaded the railroads In our State in '96 to do that but in '97 some roads objected to It. We find it works very much to our advantage. For In- stance we get the one fare rate in our State going to Des Moines, and a great many men will make it convenient to go to Des Moines to do business and will not attend the fair but if they buy a fair ticket they generally use It or else give it to some one else to use and then we get it and return it to the rail- road and get our money. If that could be es- tablished uniformly throughout all the States pr a united effort made to secure it. It seems to me It would be a great advantage. Possi- ble that has been discussed. ,. Tn - e Is an <>ther question I wanted to ask Mr. True in regprd to. Do you issue com- plimentaries to all the papers in your State? Mr. True: We send a complimentary ticket to a representative of each paper in the State and we nod in connection with this that when we want a notice of our date that It Is al- most always received favorably. Mr. Harriman: Do you make these tickets transferable? Mr. True: No, sir. , Mr. Harriman: We adopted that system and we believe it is a good investment. We make them transferable. We send to each paper in the State and say we expect you to give us complimentary notice and tor so doing we send you this complimentary, which you can use yourself or transter to someone else, thus advertising the fair. We believe we are getting large money on the investment. Mr. True: I believe we make a mistake In cheapening our complimentary ticket. I ao not believe wo ought to make it a matter of merchandise. It should mean what it says —complimentary. Mr. Harriman: I did not mean necessarily a complimentary. Mr. True: I want to say that I believe that this quest!-n of complimentaries is witnin the hands and can be controlled by the State Board. All it needs are certain rules based upon good common sense and the man who has got sand enough to stand up and enforce them. There are persons entitled to privi- leges and there are others who are not. When a gentleman stands at the gate and sees a man come up whom he knows has no more right than himself to go in free, he is In- dignant and he is right, and there starts the feeling of antagonism to the fair. Let our rules be such that we can stand by them and then if we have got a man on the board who has sand enough to stand up, put him in a position to execute your plans. Mr. Harriman: The tickets that we re- ferred to are press passes. Mr. Grimes: I am one of you and would most gladly welcome any solution of this matter, but. as I said before, this is no doubt the same old subject to every member and a solution has never been accomplished, and if this body can come to some solution which would be practical and used by all fairs v.- • we will accomplish something that will go down to history and will be worth our trip of one thousand miles here to accomplish I would be very glad if something could be ac- complished. My remarks were not antagonis- tic to this subject. But we are wasting time. Mr. Liggett: I think the paper is a good one and I believe It is to the interest of all here that we should take some recognition of it, and while I do not believe we can accomplish uniformity, there is nothing we have had to-day of more importance and especially to exchange ideas with reference to it. We all know that these privileges are abused. These things should be discussed and these privileges that are so much abused ought to be modified In some way but I think the special boards will have to control them. Mr. Flemins: I am glad to know that there are some states receivins fair treat- ment at the hands of the railroads. I am only sorry that I can not say so much for Ohio. The railroads do not seem to recog- nize the members of the Board of Agricul- ture as working in their mutual Interest and It is impossible for us to get even trip passes for our members, much less annuals. I have tried repeatedly to get annual passes for our members along the lines they lived but have failed utterly. I have even tried to get trip passes, but the official will not understand that they are entitled to it. In fact, the secretaries can not get passes over all the railways thut enter Columbus. One or two railways give passes, but in general we can not secure them. Somo tlmo ago, in making application, I received a call trom the general manager of the road I went to his office, he "took me Into his private room and asked me upon what grounds I requested annual passes over the road. I went over the ground with him and stated that we considered our work mutual and we thought the roads ought to contrib- ute transportation. "Don't the Board of Ag- riculture pay your expenses? What more do you want?" "The board does not feel that tbey should bo compelled to pay my ex- penses when I go out to work up fair mat- ters when it is as much to your interest as to their.*. I try to get men to come to the fair, and if a man comes we get fifty cents and you get an average of, perhaps, |2.5u." He finally called his chief clerk and in- structed him to make out for me an annual Keferring to the complimentary pass, I perhaps ought to say just a word about that because we are trying a new system In Ohio, it is said we might discuss this matter and never get uniformity, but I beg to disagree with my superior officer from Ohio and say that I believe there Is a system, where in fifteen minutes we can get at a uniform basis, and that is that we abolish entirely the complimentary and free pass system of every kind. I believe it has got to come to that. I do not believe there is another man in the United States believes wholly as I do. In Ohio we are coming a little to that. I do not say that we should not give per- sons free admissions who have contributed something toward the fair as a recompense, but I believe It should be done in another way than complimentary. We have started in a little on that line, and the newspapers and the helpers and the exhibitors and the privilege people and everyone of that char- acter who are entitled to one admission a day, instead of giving them a ticket we have a book of orders on the Treasurer. That order is handsomely lithographed and some- times people think a good deal more of a nice-looking check or order, and that order says, "Treasurer of Ohio State Fair, please issue ticket to John Brown on account of help," or whatever It may be, and that Is good, and when he goes to the fair he sim- ply takes that up to any ticket office and there It represents a half dollar and the clerk hands him a ticket and he goes in. These checks are then charged up as cash. The next day. if he has another order, he gets another ticket. Suppose you have in the machinery department an exhibitor who Is entitled to so many tickets, say eight ad- missions, or twelve; now, when he comes up to the department the first day, his name is reported and he is found to be entitled to two helpers under the rules; he then gets his eight or twelve orders, or whatever they may be, and they are good for tickets at any of the sale windows, the same as half dollars. When the fair is over you know how many of these orders have been issued and what each one was for, and we are com- ing to the conclusion that that is the rr.ly way to do It. to reduce the number of kinds of tickets as much as possible. When we come to the point where we use only one style of ticket it will solve many oi these discussions. If you want to Issue lo a num- ber of the legislature, or anyone else, a complimentary, after you have these orders lithographed nicely, send them to him. "Voii know that you have given out two uoliiirs* "THE" ATTRACTION FW^ffSS'J.W . THE FAMOUS DIVING ELKS. CANADA'S 6BEAT EXPOSITION AND INDUSTRIAL FAIR W. H. BARNES. E«q.. Sioux Cltv. Iowa : T „ m „.„ „ „, . -^racS-ThlX™^^ oir expectations, each Elk going through thVlr acl"twl«?'«rti^t. wonderf "' diving was far beyond THE BILLBOARD they are booked. r The attendance at our Exposition this ve«, -hi . P K. Ve ° n a «V»«J«on wherever tbouM^audlbcarnothingbuttbehighewTrK^ •»"-«-'«- Your, truly, h. J. HILL. Manager .™dSecretary. Addren, WILL H. BARNES, Sioux Oty, low*. worth of tickets, or as many as ft may be, and you know you have not given anyone a ticket that he can pass through'.•.::«..renus- as many times as he wishes. It Heems to mo tbut with an order like this to present to any one of the ticket sellers he will feel as much complimented as by any other method. The man will talk about it just as much ai.d it will do .just as much good. I think the time is coming when wo will come to a single ticket system. It will reduce the kinds of tickets and net annoy your gate- tender. We used the tickets spoken of by brother Hill for four years. We stopped it. It may succeed all right in Toronto, hut it did not succeed with i.h— porlmpH we did not have the right kind of gntc-tcndvra. I am satisfied thnt many people went in that were not entitled to go in. lly this other method when the matter Is taken up at the end cf the fair we know just how many tickets each department has used. We do not give them any tickets at all, if we can help it. When we sell the privilege it is with the understanding that It will cost them so much to £ret in. On motion, the convention adjourned until 2 o'clcck. 2 P. M.. OCTOBER 2G. : Mr. Garrard submitted the following: Whereas, In order to properly conduct contests of speed on the race tracks of state and county fair grounds, and be able to se- cure strict decorum on the part of drivers and others, and otherwise protect the' inter- ests of the fair, it is necessary to hold mem* bership in a Trotting Association in order to enforce rules, levy fines for disobedience, suspend and expel for fraud, and collect un- paid claims; and, Whereas, The American Trotting Associa- tion. J. 11. Steiner, Secretary, with head- quarters at Chicago, 111., has adopted a se- ries cf rules governing races, that we be- lieve do most fully meet the requirements of fair organizations, permitting as they do the speeding of hoppled horses and not re- quiring that drivers procure an annual li- cense, the restriction of the formeiy and the requirement of the latter not beitfg in the interest of fair organizations, where the .races are for premiums only and without pooling privileges; and. Whereas, The American Trotting Associa- tion has recognized the importance of the State and County Fairs of the United States by electing to its Directory a representative fair man in the person of Mr. J as. W. Flem- ing, the Secretary of this American Asso- ciation of Fairs and Expositions, a man who is fully conversant with fair management, and who. as a member of the Directory of the American Trotting Association, will look alter the interests of the fair members of said Association: therefore. Resolved, That we endorse the American Trotting Association and commend its rules, and we further recommend that State and County fair organizations conducting speed contests, place their membership with said Association, and conduct the contests under its rules and protection. Mr. Grimes: In support of the resolution presented I would simply say that it is a recognized fact that the American Associa- tion interests itself more than any other as- sociation in the work of county and state fairs. It has adopted a great many rules that come under the head of fair organiza- tions that would not come under the head of what we rail speed contests, where there is no fair attached to them. With this in view I hope the members will consider, not that I say anything disparaging at all of the Na- tional Trotting Association—it is a good thing, but it has adopted rules which our fair organization can not comply with and properly continue the fair. We will say, for illustration, that you own a horse: you wilt perhaps trot that horse.In one or two fairs If you are governed by the National Trot- ting Association you will have to go on rec- ord as a licensed trotter.- If you want to place him in the fair you will have to get a license to do so under the National rules. If the horse is accustomed to wearing hop- ples 'and can not be driven without a hop- ple, you can not drive him in the fair un- less you discard the hopple. This rule takes effect the coming year. With the difference between the two associations as to the con- duct of the fair, I think that this resolu- tion should be passed beyond question, and J hope that It will. I will give any further information in my power and will be glad ' to answer any Question I can. o. M . r ' %? v . ei °Z'-J wou,d s "y tnat °'" - Illinois State Fair. finds it of very much benefit. There is hardly a year goes by without fees being collected for us and properly reported. I think It Is a good thing, and every fair ought to belong to It. Mr. Furnas: Our State Board has been a member of the American Association ever Blnce Its organization. Mr. Grimes: The resolution states that the American Association elected Mr. Fleming as a Director, which was done to recognize state fairs and also county fairs and shows a disnoBltion to recognize state associations and places Mr. Fleming in a position to ben- .f.V" al,: lf wo cudorsc this resolution. It will hcln us all. Mr. Fleming: Permit mo to say that my election to the Directory of the American Trotting Association was entirely unsolicited on my part, and was. In fnct, rather a sur- prise to me. I was a delegate to the con- gress nt the Inst meeting In Mny. The meeting was nnnnunred at 10 o'clock, and I discovered it had been postponed until 1 o clock. 1 left frr my hotel and came back n Ilttlo lnte. and when I arrived I met a gentleman In the lobby mid he snld "I wnnt to eongrntulnte you." and told me I had been elected a member of the nonrd of Directors. Of course I shall look carefully after the Interest of our fair members, and I.feel 1 can really do the fairs some good; Jind If I enn not. i have no business In the nsHoclntlon. because I have no Interest greater than the fair interest. We can not afford to put anything In our wny by requir- ing drivers to be licensed, or forbid the use of hopples, for tho reason that it will affect our revenue and. affect us in other ways. As long as I am a member of that association 1 will do all 1 can to. advance the interests of lair managers. The resolution was unanimously adopted. Tne l're&ioent appointed the following stabbing committees: Committee on Transportation.—J. Irving Pcarce, of Illinois; w. \v. Aimer, of uuio: W. !•'. Harriman, of Iowa; Win. M. Liggett, of Minnesota; John M. Tiue, or vYi-icnliMll. Executive Committee—H. J. Hill, of '101 on- to; H. S. Grimes, of Ohio; li. W. Kanuall, of Minnesota; W. It. Bowen, of Nebraska. Reports or Committee lo itecotulueiiu uatcs were MibmitUd as lollows: The majority of committee recommend dates of rails lor 1-,!)!) have agreed to bubmit the following: New loik Augutt 28 to September 2 l' lwa August 2S to September 2 'Minnesota,' Nebraska and Ohio. September 4 to 9 Wisconsin September 11 to 16 Inoiana September IS 10 23 I'"", 018 September 25 to 30 St. Louis October 2 to 7 ALBERT HALE, Chairman. \\e, the undersigned members or the com- mittee to recommend dates of State Kairs lor ISM disagree with the majority report and hereby tile a minority report. We favor giving Iowa the dates of Septem- ber 4 to . ». followed by Nebraska September JI -to 1(>. ISM, insteaolof commencing with Iowa oil August 2S to September 2, U>a9 P. L. FOWLER. A. HUMPHREY. The majority report was adopted. The Presiaent announced as the next in oroer the election of oulcers ror tne ensuing year, other committees not being ready to repor t. For President, R. W. Furnas, of Brownville Nebratka. was placed in nomination and there being no further nominations, the Secretaiy was inttructeo to cast the ballot tor Mr Fur- nas, wheieupon he was declared elected' „„?? . motio ".'. the Secretary was instructed to cast the oallot for the election of Mr. A J Lovejoy or Illinois, for Vice President. Car- m' .f" 1 Mn , '-oveJoy was declared elected. Motion made ana seconded that the Presi- . .1 . insttuet 'd to cast a unanimous vote of the Association tor Mr. J. w. Fleming as SSSST Motion carrit ? and eIec "» ~ »^ rt L i > K e3oy: h move ****■ the by-laws be amended by providing that the salaiy of fifty Dollars be paid the secretary annually Mo- tion seconded and carried lnr T ; n *l emiUg: l- waul to say tnat l am will- ing to oo everything 1 can without compen- sation, and ot cou.se, I should not expect anything anyway unless there is money in the etf ,„ y ; aD . d ll may be """idered tnat u„t owe S s t n h i rnothin m g 0nty """' "* A "~™o- Moved ana seconded that the President be inst.ueted to cast the vote for Wm li! Lig! ™l,-iJ Minnesota, for Treasurer. Motion earned and election so declared It vvas moved and seconded that the Presi- year at tSSSg? '° Ca " ^ ~»™«««» V« Mr. Randall:" 1 extend an invitation for the next" ve'I^ '? "",'• St ' , Paul or aiiaaeapolis next year. I realize that these cities are somewhat distant to members of the Kastern ., ^ a, V We Wou . Id hardl >- '«' "** attempt" or t\ac wooM a h e, ^ Uon asainEt their w "*es »L t S uld be ""convenient for them in an> way. ho far as the members of the West- I S U „, v'".', A™ «»»«"« I t"i«k it would bo i.T,t !' as any point that can be named L* ' 'nerefore invite the Association to hold J.™ ,V """"I 1 mee ""e at St. Paul, and we hope the members of the Eastern circuit will (:i't™t 8, if you do we uope jou «»• \7 h lJ', r i &mnt , diro «t^a ""at a ballot be tak- and SC PauI SUUed ' Q ' " e betWeeu Cbic <*» Mr Se i 0 „ n v d . ba " 0 V Was taken w 'th like result - Mr. Lovejoy: You all know you can go to Chicago easier than anywhere else in the Mr. Fleming: I think we should lay a=ide ^•"■l 0 "*. 1 fe «»nss and look only to the good and the success of the Association H seems to me that the success of the Associa tion would be better attained if we hell our convention at Chicago, because it would "n all probability, be held during the time of H°v me «, 0f ^ ,e ,, llVe stock breeder* meeting" and live stock shows and we would and could ac- SSSMf* */".?. ' n Several directions I lm S? L 'L,°/ ,De °P inl °n. too. that we could «„„ * . ett ? r auaie n c <» at Chicago, and we "STfi'?, t0 try to bulId un the Association noil,. ", en r: e , we OUBht to have some central point at which to meet. I should rather have it come to Columbus, but I do not want tn ^k^'t three as 1 do not think U would ne the best for the Association. <5.* P„. R i and vt" : ., 1 wi thdraw my motion for .•.'.It. 1 - We do not w °nt to do anythlne that will not suit the convenience of the East- ern members and. while we would be veVv glad to see you at St. Paul, perhaps under the circumstances we ought not to ask you to come. •* Mr. Hill: Our most successful gatherings have always been at the center of population At .°i h f r P |a . ce a we have had local meetings but did not have the other cities there. The more central we can make it the better tho Association will be. Personally I would rath- er see it at St. Paul. Upon another vote being taken it was car- ried unanimously for Chicago. Mr. True. Chairman of the Committee on the question of tickets: Your committee ap- pointed to consider matters relating to uni- formity of ticket systems suggested bv Mr. Hill s paper, does not deem It advisable to jdopt any cast-iron rule for any members. We submit the following report: Your committee nnpointcd to consider mat- ter relating to uniformity of ticket system suggested by paper of Mr. Hill, does not deem It advisable to edopt anv cast-iron rule for the Issue of complimentaries. which must be left largely to the judgment ot the manage- ment of each State fair. As to helpers' tickets, we respectfully sug- gest the following uniform classification: Live Stock- Horses: One ticket for every two horses, up to six, and no increase for number above Eix. Cattle: One man for every herd up to six head, and one extra man for all over that number. Sheep: One helper for each breed shown, or* one for e-ach pen or flock. Swine: Same as sheep. ■ Poultry: One helper for each exhibitor who makes one dozen entries or more. Machinery or implements: Helpers accord- ing to the number of machines or imple- ments actually in operation, to be left to the management cf the several fairs. Grains. Garden Products, Art, Woman's Work. Fruit and Horticultural Products: No helpers. Manufacturer's or Commercial Exhibits- One helper, or in case of large exhibits, two helpers, in. judgment of management. In case of concessionaires or refreshment privileges, we recommend that the matter be leit to judgment oi manaaemeiit. according to amount paid for privilege. •J- M. TRUE, for Committee. The repcrt of the committee was adopted Mr. Harriman: In regard to the fixing of dates fcr holding fairs, it is our understand- ing that this is a recommendation, but I would like to have the Association under- stand to some extent our situation There is a considerable feeling in our state against a 1. e ? rl . y date, and at our annual meetiiiK which is composed of delegates from every county in the state, the president or repre- sentative of the county society, and in the county where there is no society, then the rsoard cf Advisors appoint a delegate; they determine and fix a date fcr holding the fair It is designated by statute that tbey must do so. now. if they should not accept of the recommendation made by this Association we who represent our society here to-day would want you gentlemen to feel that it was not from any ill-feeling or any inclina- tion or desire to depart from your recom- mendation If it is different from the date recommended, it will be because the repre- sentative men in the state so fix it at their meeting. There is another matter that I was requested to call the attention of the Association to. which does not properly come in hc-e. but I will take the time to state What it is. Some exhibitors have run across m some of the states, a difficulty in regard ,o,n ne c l ass 'fleat on as to age of animals, cattle etc. Fcr instance, the yearling, how long does it continue to be a yearling' In SSr, Sta ,1 •' '1 a >' ear 'ing if it becomes" two years old in the month in which the fair is h hi d ',J' 1 some °J. her states we are informed that this is not the rule, and exhibitors have run across that objection. It occurs to me ?J, a . t i, there snou ld be a uniform classification in that regard. We have no particular pref- be uniform matter ' only 1 think it should Mr. Lovejoy: This day should be when they are just 3S5 days old. • ,„ M . r ' L 'Sgett: I move that the age of ani- £i",2' e * cer, t "J"-** 3 , date from the actual birth. Seconded and carried »*'£ E"L S: ' am requested and agree with ihoie ? . a motIon that the President be thanked for furnishing these beautiful vafleT We are w « arin e- Motion pre- Mr. Furnas: I desire to repeat what I evening the beginning of the meeting last evening, and it is this, that through tne in- dustry of our worthy Secretary we have secured the largest and most imferest?n| meeting this Association has ever held and I urge upon the members that they take this matter up and write it up and help the Sec! retary. in order that the Association may be built up and enlarged so as to take in thl SSStauST- as was ™«*°*** *" it! .-h Mr i HH V « Tour . Seere tury has now served the Association for one year, but I did not wo a i r i„ h i,V? : r t - U funds are mailable: would it not be proper to make him a small allowance for this year, which may properly b ,T„H bar ^?, d up 4 .°. tb,s Association? ir the funds will permit it, I should like to see some compensation given to him for his ser- vices this year. Mr. Lovejoy: The motion I made regarding his salary was to include the present year —2". • mo ^L on ' the convention adjourned, to d. J" . lcaso . next y ear, at the call of the President and Secretary. [Concluded.] "The Billboard" is the only publication in the world devoted to fairs. It not only reaches all fair managers every month, but every exhibitor, concessionaire and horse- man ns well. In fine, it reaches everybody mterested in fairs, covers the entire field thoroughly and is the natural and only ad- vertising medium In it- Announce your purses in "The Billboard - More horsemen read it regularly every month than are reached by all the horse papers combined. This is a fact. 15 The Cincinnati Poultry Show. The first annual Poultry Shew of the Cin- cinnati Poultry. Pigeon and Pet Stock As- sociation, held in Music Hall. Cincinnati, Feb. 8 to 15, attracted considerable attention even ill this city of many attractions. As no successful show had been held in Cincinnati for eight or ten years, it was not without some doubts as to the outcome of this at- lei-nnf. tr-s»t its Promoters undertook it. The success of the show, however, fully realized . -t „s,s nopeu for it, ne.th in pciut of exhibit and attendance. The enterprising men at the head of it can ftt. iiiouu oi eiieir success. No more en- thusiastic and capable worker in the cause of fancy poultry can be found than Mr O .1. Ross, cf Level. O.. and the society did well to make him their Secretary. Mr *r.ink C. Wright, of ML Healthy. O.. is President of the Association—a man who has been in the poultry business fcr a number of years. Hcrticultural Hall', where the show was held, is well fitted fcr an exhibit of this kind, being large and well lighted by means of a glass roof, and everything entered was shown to the best advantage. The chief and main part of the exhibit was in the poul- try line, of course, though rabbits and pig- eons were well represented. Everything of interest to the poultry raiser was to be sW Ihe exhibit of incubators, feed grinders feeding troughs, lice-killing machines, etc had come direct from the New York Poul- try Show. Little chicks, just out of the shell were pecking friskily, unmindful o' the disgusted hen who saw herself so beau- tifully supplanted. As is usual at such Places, every fowl seemed to be trvin- to ch!^ 0 -*'. '-V nejsnbor. and the noise was cheerful, if confusing. The incubator and brooder display was from the Prairie State incubator Co .-of w m . er S' ty - Pa - and consisted of incu- vf^fi . various sizes, with self adjusting ventilators, appliances for turning the eees and everything complete as possible. One of i h , e „i ,nc . ubatori L. ba<1 been stocked with one i,» hl? d , *? d „ flfty e8gs - so tnat they would SLh tcb . ed . during the show, and one hun- dred and forty-eight little chicks were suc- vemrs hatcbed ' and S^en away as smi- r>Zr e A dis £ lay = of ,. BunT Plymouth Rocks, by Pror. A. M. Scovil contained some very fine specimens of that breed. One of the largest and finest exhibits was made by J. R. Rosa » n"; ot L ~ vel - °- Mrs - J - H. Orebaugh. evh i h a i. aV - a -, C i" aIso had a ver y interesting n-h ? • n . C 'V 1 d '£ g ™ me superb specimens of White and Hurl Plymouth Rocks. A.large v.anety of fowls were entered by the West- wood Poultry Yards, of WestwoodTo Among other exhibitors catalogued were: Chas. Leeds. College Hill. O.: E. M. Barnes Pleasant Run. O ; I. T.. Bryant, Oxford. fT R"ieh»STS 0k S-- Col, f ge "•". O-: J- Z- Bristow Riehwood. Ky ; .1. R. Rockafellar. Brook- OIvhU iW H ' u ^' Cling - Cincinnati, O.; Clyde Hafcr, Hebron, Ky.; H. Langhorst. Mt. Healthy o.; w. W. White. Newport Ky Samuel Purcell. Newport, Ky.; Fred. H. Fuchs. Newport. Ky.; Mr. and Mrs. F. C. ..right, Mt. Healthy. O.; W. C. Wiley Cincinnati O.; F. Miller. Newport. Ky. : Riley & Hartough. Dale. Ky.; Geo. Corlles, S . S W- ^.V J .'. E ' Rhodemyre. Portsmouth, o.. c. p. Chalfant. Salem, O.; Arthur Cun- ?, l . n £ ha . m - SPrloefleid. O.; K. S. Trimble. Middletown. Ky.; Lewis Richey. Georgetown p.; F. J. Marshall. Middletown. O.; T. Sher- lock, Jr., Cincinnati, O.; M. F. Morris, Lex- « st ? n ' Q . Ky - : i' w - Po »er, Jr., Paris, Ky.; ?'* .. m ' ^''mington. O.; L. A. Wood- ,2. ^°^ Pine Grove, Ky.. and John Heis, or .North Fairmount. Cincinnati. O. Y,f regret that space does not permit us publishing the list of premiums. Messrs F J. Marshall and H. A. Bridge were amonfc the judges, the former gentleman having been one of the judges at the World's Fair and having a national reputation In that ca- pacity. MARKA-BOMDY.^^Micr^fcI^ ALLEGAN County Fair! ALLEGAN, MICHIGAN. Society ont of debt, has the hand°ome«t grounds in the State, exhibits open to six of be»t counties of State, and will be the banner fair of the State this year. Now ready to contract attractions and privi- leges.""' Date, October 3, 4, 5 and 6,1899. . A. H. FOSTER, Se&i Allegan, Mich. Balloon Ascensions and Parachute Leaps For Fairs, Fetes and Celebrations. Either* I— -aci-y or- Gentlem-an Aer-onaute We are reliable. Nothing stops us or prevents ascension except a hurricane or a pouring rain. For terms, address the champion. PROF. E. STEVENS, NORTH ADAMS, MICH.