100 years ago in the Saratogian
Tuesday, Aug. 27, 1918
“There was about the usual opening day’s attendance at the county fair,” The Saratogian reports, but more are expected tomorrow when Governor Charles S. Whitman visits the fairgrounds.
“War conditions appear to have caused considerable interest in farm machinery,” a reporter writes from Ballston Spa, “as the shortage of man power makes it necessary to employ as much labor saving machinery on the farm as possible.”
With that in mind, three tractor companies have exhibits at the fair, and each will give an exhibition of its machines’ plowing ability. “Farmers in this section are certainly taking considerable interest in them, so that the plowing exhibitions will be watched with interest.”
Elsewhere, “In Floral hall war is again recognized in the display of floral ornaments, one representing a service flag and another an aeroplane.
“The display of flowers is a good one, although not as large as usual, the extremely dry weather of the past two months having affected very adversely the blossoming plants in the gardens.”
For those whose interests aren’t exclusively agricultural, “the exhibitions on the vaudeville stage this year proved to be of a very satisfactory character and pleasing to the audience in the grand stand.” The main attractions of the 1918 fair include Terrell’s Animal Circus, the Revolving Race and The Los Platas. As an alternative to the track at Saratoga, “the racing was of a high class and the promise for the best racing the people of this section ever saw.”
Dr. Wagner Speaks Before W.C.T.U.
In Saratoga Springs , the local branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union holds its annual meeting in the Sunday School of First Methodist Episcopal Church. Nationwide, the W.C.T.U. is one of the most influential groups lobbying for nationwide prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Featured speaker Rev. J. E. Wagner talks on “Glimpses of the work of the W.C.T.U. that I have seen in the east and the west.” He tells the gathering that the liquor interests are “endeavoring to make the public believe that temperance is in the minority,” but he claims that “eighty per cent of the country was already dry and that sixty-five per cent of the population of the country lived in that section.”
Looking past the day when Prohibition becomes a reality, Wagner suggests that “when America has done away with its saloons it would be necessary to provide clubs for the poor in which the men could enjoy themselves.” An expanded Y.M.C.A. could meet that need, he believes.
The W.C.T.U. announces a food sale to be held on Friday, August 30, to benefit Armenian war orphans.