Theodore Roosevelt

In the fall of 1910, Theodore Roosevelt was stumping the country making the case for what he called the “New Nationalism”. He argued that human welfare was more important than property rights and insisted that only a powerful federal government could regulate the economy and guarantee social justice and that a President can only succeed in making his economic agenda successful if he makes the protection of human welfare his highest priority. He wanted executive agencies (not the courts) to regulate business.

Roosevelt’s team pitched a huge tent in the infield of the Williamson County Fair Ground in the fall of 1910 with seating for 10,000 people. Needless to say, the tent was packed to overflow.

He paid a high compliment to the Williamson County Fair Ground, saying that is excelled any such fair grounds in his home state of New York.

The County Fair Ground has also been the object of a visit from sharpshooter Annie Oakley, William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of War Harry Woodring, Senator Alben Barkley, General John A. Logan, Col. Robert Ingersoll and Leroy Goddard.

(Data from 1989 Sesquicentennial History, WCHS; historical data and photo)