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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1905)
i AK-SAR-DEM SECTION The Omaha unday Bee AK-SAR-BEN SECTION J f I I A ESTABLISHED JUNE 19, 1871. OMAIIAv SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 1, 1J05. SING LI COPY FIVE CENTS. YE MERRIE MEMBERS Or YE FESTIVE BOARD OF AK-SAR-BEN GOVERNORS WHO PROVIDE YE ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL YE LOYAL SUBJECTS BRANDEIS PENFOLD WATTLES ROBINSON FICKENS Meaning and Purposes of the Far-Famed AfcSar-Ben Organization FROM the standpoint of the business man there can be no pos sible question of the good the Ak-Sar-Ben organization and its annual festival has done for Omaha. It cannot be figured In dollars ana cets exactly, but erery merchant here knows what the annual filling up of the city with visitors who have money and the disposition to buy means to him. At the lowest estimate 100,000 persons flock to this city 'every fall to see the entertainment provided by Samson. .On tUe average each spends at least $10. You have $1,000,000 In trade right there, and this is very conservative Drop the festival one year and you would hear a roar that would break all local records in kicking. Now and then a complaint la heard as to the wisdom of going to all the time, trouble and expense of putting on the show, but these remarks come from the surface and do not signify anything. After- a little reflection on the facts the speaker will be only too glad to recall his statement. Basic .Idea of. Ak-Sar-Ben When Ak-Sar-Ben was started we in Omaha were pretty much down in the mouth. We had thettate fair, to be sure, but it had not proved the success expected. The merchants saw clearly that some thing additional In the way of entertainment muBt be given to get the people in. Several went down to New Orleans and bought a few of the Mardl Gras floats, sent them up here and we had the parades. The idea seemed to make a hit and we" kept working along that and the popular secret society line. Year by year the Ak-Sar-Ben has become more firmly rooted until now It Is almost an institution. I never heard any visitor say he was not satisfied and delighted with the entertainment he received in Omaha during the Ak-Sar-Ben carnival. I know by personal knowledge that thousands of people in Nebraska, Iowa and other states look forward to the event and feel deeply disappointed If they cannot come. My wife has Just returned from a visit to Hebron, Neb., and she says the Interest there this year is as great, if not greater, than ever before. At my own home I shall act as host to several guests who come specially to see the Ak-Sar-Ben spectacle. One comes from Denver and an other from Iowa. Since the Ak-Sar-Ben principle was founded in Omaha the city has grown faster and been more prosperous than ever before. It By Major R. S. Wilcox President of the Board of Governors During Its First Four Years- , . ? . 1895-BOARDS OF GOVERNORS OF AK-SAR-BEN 'S REALM FROM THE BEGINNING 1905. 1SWJ. 180. 18f7. 1898. 1890. I&OO R. S. Wilcox. E. M. Bartlett E. M. Bartlett E. E. Bryson. n. Vance Lane. W. S. Jardlne. W. S. Jardlne. . T. A. Fry. T. A. Fry. w. S. Jardlne. W. M. Glass. H. J. Fenfold. H. J. Penfold. w. S. Jardlne. W. S. Jardlne. n. J. Fenfold. E. P. Peck. T. A. Fry. Dudley Smith. o. D. Kiplinger. O. D. Klplinger. r. S. Wilcox. O. D. Klplinger. R. S. Wilcox. ' Clement Chase. n. Vance Lane. IL Vance Lane. x. A. Fry. Fred Metz. J. G. Martin. W. Lyle Dickey. E. E. Bryson. E. E. Bryson. A. H. Noyes. . J. G. Martin. II. Vance Lane. T. A. Fry. u. J. Tenfold. H. J. Penfold. h. Vance Lane. II. J. Penfold. Fred Metz. E. E. Bryson. R. S. Wilcox. R. S. Wilcox. W. R. Bennett W. S. Jardlne. M. C. Feters. E. M. Bartlett, Cleuieut Chuse. Clement Chase. E. P. Peck. E. E. Brvson. Edgar Allen. H. Vance Lane. W. R. Bennett. W. R. Bennett O. D. Klplinger. R. S. Wilcox. Mel Uhl. .1 W. R. Bennett Dudley Smith. Dudley Smith. Fred Metz. T. A. Fry. George P. Cronk. J. E. Utt W. U. McCord. W. IL McCord. W. M. Glass. A. II. Noyes. A. II. Noyes. -- ' 9oi. looa. loos. 10O4 J0o5 T. A. Fry. IL J. Tenfold. R. a Howe. t. A. Fry. G. W. Wattles. Mel Uhl. Fred Metz. T. A. Fry. Fred Metz. IL J. Penfold. W. S. Jardlne. Gould Dletz. W. S. Jardlne. n. j. penfold. C. IL Pickens. J. G. Martin. Edgar Allen. C. N. Robinson. L. L. Kouutze. ' W. S. Jardlne. R. S. Wilcox. C. M. Wllhelm. J. M. Ilendrle. Gould Dietz. Gould Dietz. Fred Metz. M. A. Hall. M. A. Hall. . q. f. West C. N. Robinson. George P. Cronk. Mel Uhl. Fred Met. c. H. Pickens. G. F. West. H. Vance Lane. T- Fry. Gould Dletz. o. N. Robinson. Joseph C. Root Gould Dletz. W". S. Jardlne. II. J. Penfold. w. S. Jardlne. Emll Brandels. M. C. Peters. M. Hendrie. C. M. Wllhelm. Mel Uhl. A. J. Love. Edgar Alifen. R. C; Howe. Mel Uhl. w. J. C. Kenyon. Charles R. Courtney. H. J. Penfold. L- L. Kouutze. l. L. Kountze. C. M. Wllhelm. Al PoWll. has expanded, improved, cheered up and taken on a new civic and been improved and increased. Industrial pride. With the change for better general conditions The first years showed expense bills of $15,000 to $18,000. Now the quality and quantity of the Ak-Sar-Ben carnival likewise has the cost is considerably more than $50,000. With the continually increasing popularity of the festival has gone a disposition to give every visitor more and mor for his money. I venturj to say that In very few cities of the country is anything like the free show given that we have In Omaha every year as a matter oj form and custom. I know from personal experience that the trade-drawing powers of Ak-Sar-Ben are immense. It comes at the time of year after the products of a great agricultural area aro harvested, much of them sold, and the farmers and ranchmen have money at hand to buy stocks and'outflts for the winter. Of course, tbey, can buy nearer home, but they cannot get the assortment and prices that they can In the metropolis. Half or more ot them would buy at home, though, if It were not for the ten days of relaxation, sight-seeing and frolio they can get here at little cost to break the monotony of their livei and brighten them up for months to come. Good Fellowship Value Immense This Is why the institution is valuable to Omaha. We depend so much upon the tributary country for our support that we should do all we can for the people of the farms, ranches, cities and smaller towns. It cannot be questioned by any man who knows anything about it that Ak-Sar-Ben has proved the strougest impetus this city ever bad towards commercial prosperity. Yet we have knockers and those in our midst who pull back In the traces. It is necessary for committees to go out and hustle up subscriptions for the parade fund and they have to plead and beg for paltry amounts, many times. Some merchants respond nobly, others quite to the contrary. Some of those who get the greatest benefits, like the hotel and restaurant men, contribute the least. Like everything else the burden is not borne equitably by all the business men. The majority, I am glad to Bay, have the right spirit and do the right thing. Cheer Up for Encouragement. The parades I know are well liked and thoroughly admired. The floats are brand new to the last stick and board every year. The crowds that line the windows and sidewalks every fall grow in size, yet they make little noise and show little enthusiasm. It has taken weeks and months of work to put on the parades and the toilers would be thankful for a few cheers and a bit of enthusiasm Just for encouragement. I would ask that the spectators expresi what they feel, good or bad, but by all means an expression. WOWTLJi JAKDXXB OOUETXET BOOT LOVB WEST SCOTS