The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-01-17
Editor Ko,cn Plain Dealer:


An article over the signature Of Life
Member" which being somewhat
personal, feel constrained to briefly
answer. Do not know who "life
member" may be as there are over
100 life members, but from the tone
OF the article, my Imagination pie
lures him as a man OF some ability
and probably some means, who has
travelled, crossed the briney ocean,
been 10 tho halls Of the Legislature,
held office In the Howard Co. Agri-
cultural Society, and has been a
candidate for numerous other offices
without success, and 10 somewhat
soured because his worth and abili.
tics are not fllly appreciated, but /
would advise him to be patient and
"very generously" accept the situa.
ton. rs he has only been q resident
Of the county n few short years, 1t
can hardly be expected that his
worth and abilities should SO soon
be known aud acknowledged.
Life mcmbcr" errs when he says
that tho President, J. B. Barber;
Treas, s. A. Converse, and Secy.
John McHugh, very generously do
mated their salaries In order that 80
cents on the dollar of the premiums
might be paid" The donation must
have been made prior to the election
Of officers at the regular annual
meeting held Jany 9Th 1883, at which
time by the Trcasurcr's report, there
Was only Sl9ll In the Treasury. and
the Society then owing q debt, I
think for lumber, to the amount Of
e2l5, or near that amount, aud on
Feby 10th, long after the new officers
had assumed their duties, tho Soci.
ETY. voted to pay said 20 per cent.
which could only be done by letting
the old debt remain unpaid and TAX
Ing the $l9.ll in treasury and 500,
soon to be received from the State
to pay said 30 per cent. Said dona-
tons were "very generously" made,
I grant, but I fail to see "life mem
ber's" application.
As for printing the list OF awards,
you know Mr.. Editor that the list
was prepared and at the printing
Office, and but for the advice Of your
se,f and several others, 1t woul' not
have been withdrawn. hence on that
point am not blamclessp
Then again. "life member" says,
"they have reelected themselves
&c. II L. NJ, had attended the elec-
ton, OF which due notice was given,
he would have known, as / think he
does now, that that statement was
untrue, as all or nearly nil present
know that I did not desire re-elec-
ton. and will say right here that II
the Society will name . man for my
successor. who il not too generous
and "unselfsh." I will willingly and
gladly resign In his favor giving him
all the aid and assistance reasonably
consistent, and $40 cash. Now II
"life member" pleases he can ICON.
trast' this with my predecessors
"unselnsh generosity" who gave me
no assistance in any form. but was
the cause Of making me several days
hard labor by failing to pass over nj
the entry books which called FOL
twice ut his Office and twice Mt hi.
residence before getting them, ant
then received only portion Of then
making . regular botch for the Secy
to nnravel after the close OF the Fair
for the proof OF which will refel
you to Miss Ranie Mead, who as
sisted me at Floral hal, and whs
first called my attention to and ex
planned the fact that about one hal
J OF the books were missing. And Will,
speaking Of predecessors, wish I,
say that ex- President J. d. Barbe
has shown his sympathy with tn
officers and his real interest in tn,
Society by many kind words an.
good advice to me. which I wish /,
assure him is appreciated and an,
further suggestions will always b.
thankfully received.
Yes. Mr.. Editor, ! grant that How
ard county has done . great deal To-
me, and while Il scorn to boast
must say that believe ] have pal,
Howard county for every cent eve
received. and / submit that matte
to those far more competent to judg