The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-01-04
From the Michigan Farmer.
THE STATE AGRICULTURAL 50.
CIETY.

THE STATE AGRICULTURAL sO
CIETY.
The Executive Committee held il
annual session ut the Russell Hous,
last week. We publish . synopsis o
the proceedings, but there are severa
subjects which we have left out for til,
purpose Of giving them more space and
more attention than We can spare thil
week. The discussion on the aboli-
tion OF horse racing is one Of them
Perhaps we can add few illustration,
to the subject that may refresh the
memories OF some OF the older mem
bers. Then we have not given the re.
port on the finances and the expendi.
lures, nor does the Secretary's report
appear. We have the report OF the Fl.
nance Committee and of the Business
Committee. We have requested q
copy Of the reports of the Treasurer
and Secretary and desire 10 place them
altogether. IL is but fair to spread
these documents at full length before
the members OF the Society who pay
their money for its support. We have
always believed that the members oI
the Society were its owners, but of late
We have had reason to think that the
members were not the Society and that
the officers were its sole proprietors.
Propositions for the holding OF the
next State fair were made from De-
troit. Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.
We were pleased to note that the pro.
position to pass the year 1876 without
holding fair was disagreed to. There
is no good reason why it should be
passed. The Society has both grounds
and buildings at Kalamazoo and they
can have both at Grand Rapids, and
with these and IS, 900 in the treasury
We do not see what they have to be
afraid Of. We have known the Society
to hold a fair when il had neither
grounds nor fixtures and had besides
the difficulty Of having all the premi-
ums OF the previous year unpaid. The
proposition was as absurd as il was
silly. The grounds and buildings at
Kalamazoo lapse after the coming year
into the hands OF the owner, ID. @.
Reed, of Kalamazoo, and IL they are
not used the coming year il is not like
ly they can be had in the future with
out being paid for. At Grand Rapids,
grounds and buildings which have ac-
commodated the largest fair ever held
in the State are offered, while il re-
mains yet to be seen what Detroit will
do. When we consider that q grand
stand is no longer necessary and that
ALL. the parapharnalia OF q horse track
answer, and less money will fit up and
make preparations for the exhibition.
The committee on location will un-
doubtedly give all these matters due
consideration in making their decision,
which will be looked fer with much in
terest.
The committee to whom was refer
red the preparation OF rules and regu-
lations TO govern the election OF OFF,
GERS reported as follows:
/. That the Executive Committee
shall, on the first day OF the fair, ap-
point three persons, who shall be mem
bers OF the society to act as judges Of
the election, and shall at the same
time fix the place on the fair grounds
where the election shall be held.
2. Notice of the names Of the judscs
and the place whore the polls will be
held shall be given on the second day
of the fair by publication and posting
notices in at least 20 prominent places
on the fair grounds.
8. All the names TO be voted for
the officers to be elected shall b, on
one ticket.
4. Each member desiring to vote
shall present q membership ticket,
which ticket the judges Of election
shall stamp with q stamp TO show that
the same has been voted upon, and the
judges shall also take the name OF the
voter aud register the same in n poll
list. and shall then deposit his ballot
in the box provided for that purpose.
5. The polls shall be opened prompt
ly ut 8 o'clock on the morning OF Thurs
day of fair week. III ut that time any
OF the judges appointed shall not be
present the president shall immediate
ly appoint from the members Of the So
ciety to I'LL the vacancy or vacancies.
6. Each Of the judges shall, before
entering upon the performance OF his
duty subscribe declaration that he
will faithfully and impartially act as a
Judge of such election, and such dec
laration shall be filed with the Secre-
tary.
Z. No Qualification shall be required
to entitle any one to vote, other than
the presentation of certificate showing
membership in this society.
8. At 5 o'clock p. m. OF the day of
election the polls shall be closed, and
the judges and president shall then
and there ut once proceed publicly to
canvass the votes, and shalt there, be.
fore adjournment, decide who are cleo
ted TO tho several Offices.
8. The person having the high
est number OF votes for president
shall be declared elected, and like
rule shall be observed for the Off
ces Of secretary and treasurer. The
persons voted for rs members OF the
Executive Committee, to the number
to be elected, having the highest num-
Der OF votes, shall be elected; that is,
il there be ten members OF the Execu-
tive committee to be elected, the ten
persons having the highest vote re-
spectively shall be the ones elected.
10. The vote, rs declared by the
president and judges OF election, shall
be announced the next day, ps requir-
ed by bylaw.
IL. Poll lists shall be made to agree
with the count OF ballots. Votes fold
ed together, and fraudulent and dupli-
cate votes shall be governed by the
rule prescribed by laws for the govern
ment OF township elections.
The report was adopted.
Mr.. Childs, from the Committee on
Finance, reported in favor Of the ap-
proval Of the reports OF the secretary
and treasurer and the Business tCom.
mittec, and the report was adopted.
Mr.. Sterling, from the Centennial
Committee, reported in favor OF appro-
propriating $1,000 for Centennial pur-
poses, to be used in such manner as
the president Of the State Agricultural
Society shall direct. Adopted.
The president submitted Telegram
from n. l.. Avery, of Grand Rrpids
rendering the use Of the fair grounds
there for 1876 free Of charge. Adopt
ed.
Mr.. Hanford offered a resolution
authorizing the superintendents Of thu
several departments TO appoint viewing
committees, and TO furnish them will
complimentary admission tickets
Adopted.
Mr.. Childs, from the Committee OF
Finance, reported in approval OF Treas
urer Deans bond OF 1000, and th,
same was adopted.
The secretary submitted n lettel
from ex-President Wells making a re
quest, on behalf OF Mr.. Watts, Unite,
States Commissioner OF Agriculture
| for brief historical sketch ofthe Mich
igan society, and suggested Mr. ]. @
Holmes. the first secretary OF the so
cietv as tho proper rerson 10 prepar