Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-01-08
TO THE SHARE. HOLDERS OF THE SHENAH.
DOAH COUNTY AGRICULT URAL
SOCIETY.

published aud repeated about me
as an humble stakeholder in our
projected " Agricultural Society,"
that feel it a duty to myself and
those with whom co-operated to
make reply. To those whose ma
Lightly snappings and persistent
vilifcatiOnsare continuously sound
ing in my ears, | owe nothing but
silent contempt. This is all they
shall have for the present, at least.
About two years ago started
alone the project for an Agricul-
tural Fair" soon obtained the
support of four gentlemen who
agreed to open the stock books
with $500 each. Thorough exam
ination and effort to buy suitable
grounds completely failed, aud no
further endeavOr was made to pro-
cure subscriptions. About year
ago the grounds now designed for
the Agricultural Society,"" be
came purchasable at a fair price
because the property had, in the
meantime, changed hands, and the
new proprietor was ready, and quite
willing, TO sell.
1t was then suggested to avoid
the expense Ofpreparation necessa-
nv for an Agricultural Fair" by
substituting what was to be called
a " Driving Track which would
dispense with high fencing and
buildings. To this ], with some
others, dissented, and declined to
subscribe to it. Very soon after
this some other gentlemen took the
matter in hand and gave the Ag-
ricultural Society" what seemed to
be a splendid start, indicative OF
success. Being solicited to sub
scribe, l promised to do so, giving
what were then private reasons for
Withholding until after organiza-
ton, at least. These reasons have
since become public, having been
stated in full to the general meet
ing. will assume that one of them
was quite good and restate it.
About the time | was expected to
subscribe, l became, through no
fault of my own, suddenly and un-
expectedly obligated tor sums ag-
gregating over $1,000, which | was
compelled, like many others at the
time, to pay under severe threats.
AS a kind friend in Washington
loaned me the money, | felt it duty
to repay him before making other
engagements. OF this | informed
some of the" Society" here and re
newed my promise to take stock by
next spring. In the meantime |
wrote a half dozen or more articles
IN advocacy of the Agricultural en-
terprise.
This traverses the statement that
| had been trying to break up
the "Society" so far.
Now comes the statement that |
did declare a purpose to do all in
nv power "to break it up" This !
language is not mine; butif it we're |
accompanied with thecircumstances
and reasons for its utterance |
should not object to 1t. | used |
words not quite sostrong, but quite
as expressive. 1t must be remem-
bered that the initiatOry OrganlLa-
ton was effected in August. The
manner of that organization indi-
Gated to my mind that it was to be
used for other purposes than those
purely agricultural. | was con
versing with three of the officers
and one stock holder who volun.
teered to tell me what had been
done. | unhesitatingly said 81
would fight such an organization"
1t provided for four officers and
twelve directors when the charter
only admitted Of five Of the latter.
Therefore the other seven were but
figure heads without votes. This
made a lop.sided and One-sided
affair. l did not hesitate to ex-
press my opinion OF it, and the same
evening or next day wrote it up as
| thought it deserved-telling the
gentlemen what / had done. On
being assured that it was the pur-
pose to amend the charter as soon
as the circuit court judge could be
seen in the matter. ! tore up the
article referred to and substituted
one of the most friendly character.
The surest way TO "break up"
an organization is to ignore conflict
ing views among its members and
to step outside the charter under
which alone any and all rights are
acquired. SO believed then, and
so | shall hold till the law shall al
low a margin on charters and stock
holders shall have no rights under
and by virtue of them, a charter,
like constitution, is the only limit
to abuse of official trust and power;
and, though every man be honest,
the charter liz his guide. In this
case no harm was meant, and none
was done.
This brings me to the late stock
holders meeting, where, again, |
am charged with an attempt to
g break up" the Agricultural So
,iety.
First to the fGcts: There was a
moefinp. AZ the charter nrO.