Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-27
KENT IN THE SWIM
A Largely Attended Meeting OF
Farmers
REvERSES The BOARDS ACTION
And Decides 70 Hold . FAN September
Ie-z3-Ths Directors Ara vlgor-
ously Lsmossted.


been expected that the grand stand
would DC filled, bat less than nifty occu.
pied seats there when Chairman Aaron
Brewer raped for order At O'Clock.
Though few ia number, they were full
of ginger and were just spelling for .
night. During the preliminary hour
what might be termed = spirited discus
sion hsld full sway and terms quite
forcible aud inelegsns were freely used.
In the midst Of the free-for-all discus
son, 5. s. Bailey appeared and the
moment his visage came Into via " there
were angry snorts and leers and cries
OF spy" "o!d sneak" ETC., etc. Mr..
Bailey took it all good naturedly, prob
ably because he IL partially deaf and
couldn't hear it. but wnen he offered
his hand 10 each III turn IN friendly
way he struck = snag. Several e.
changed greetings with him, but the
others refrained in q way that left no
possible misconstyuctio Of their inten-
ion.
Secretary j. H. Thomas read the
minutes OF the meeting held at the
Morton June %, which was adjourned
subject TO the call of the chairman.
The object of the adjourned meeting
was TO decide whether or not fair
should be held.
The committee appointed to secure
legal advice from Edwin +. Uni IS to
the legality of holding . fair, after the
majority OF the board of directors had
decided against IL, was present, but
when asked for the report, confessed
TO having left il At home.
Mr.. Uhrs Opipiou.
Secretary Thomas stated, however,
that Mr.. Uni had gwen as his opinion
the belief that the people OF Kent
county had n right to go on and give y
fair, though they could not draw from
the treasury without the consent OF Q
majority of the board. He was also OF
the opinion that the society would not
lose its charter II no fair was held this
year.
Encouraged by this announcement
they proceeded to roll up their sleeves
and get down to work. There was q
lively discussion, but the consensus of
opinion all seemed 70 incline one way.
The absent directors were condemned
and the project Of holding far with
or without their consent was con-
sidered ct length when . surprise came
from II. B. Rathbun, who had hereto
fore been silent spectator. He aaid
he was in favor of fair, but he didn't
SEQ how it could be run without money.
Moreover he did not want fair unless
it could be held legally. Unless II
could be done in this way and unless
the money could be secured he was In
favor Of throwing up the sponge and
| not holding fair. He would otter his
| suggestion as motion.
The buzzing that followed Mr.. Rath.
buns motion must have contributed
40 much to his discomfort rs the heat.
Finally A. w. Mech secured recogni.
ton from the chair and went on to re.
mark in this WISE:
AT the time of the other trial Judge
Grant OF the supreme court held that
! we did not forfeit our charter by no,
holding a fair because we were ex-
changing property ut the time. That
was \ good and iaudable excuse, but
we have no euch excuse now. The
The citizens of the county are eager to
have fair. Many meu have come to
me and offered IS aud $40 to aid the
fair, have said they would bring all
their exhibits gratis and donate the
premiums. One thing is certain. We
will have a fair on these grounds"
stirred by Mr.. Sessions.
Applause followed his remarks and
displayed plainly the sentiment OF the
meeting. When it had subs ided X. c.
Sessions asked II they were willing To
let the $50. 900 track 90 to waste. He
said the question Of . fair this year was
q more important one than it appeared
at first sight. The same officers would
hold over until next year. The
society had got TO make z
start some time and that time
might rs we'll be now. The society
would undoubtedly have full control OF
the grounds. [Cries of That's rightI"
No right was claimed to 20 into the
| treasury and take the money out
unless with the consent OF Q majority
| of the board. The money was not
needed. There are scores of persons
not only in Paris township but also in
Gaines, Byron, Caledonia and bovine
IN fact all about, that would bring
their exhibits IN free and take the IN
out tree. They wanted the far At any
cost. For himself he would make z
motion that = far be held. not 10 outdc
the West Michigan society but for the
benefit of the Kent County society
The only legal way out of il IN his
| opinion Is TO hold the fair. and on the
Thursday specified by the bylaws pro
coed To- elect new officers.
But" said Mr.. Ratnbun. eff the
absent directors gay you cannot pass
through tho gate, what are you going
| to do? And if the new officers are
elected. does that throw the old Of
| ficers out ?"
Amused Mr.. Wood.
Then c. II. Wood remarked that oil
this talk was quite amusing 10 him
He said: at is the duty OF the Ken,
County Agricultural society to hold q
fair. IL IL the duty OF tie ahsen,
directors to come here and vote to
have fair, but they have neglected il
and they saould be set out. IL we
| have elected four ruffians to do our
work and they don't do it, are We 10 be
managed by them? They are Grand
Rapids hounds. This 10 q Kent county
sociasv and not an affair Of Grand
Rapids hounds. Kick 'em out. If
they don't do the work. just az you
would kick out q man whom you had
hired on your farm and who refused 20
work. I, fer one. don't believe in
sitting down and letting our rghss and
credits 90 b. hiar.s. I don't believe in
sitting down and isttine . fsw seal
swsgs run over "a"
Mr. SESSIONS said that ID wss folly ~
believe the gates would be locked
against the socsety. Tie even believed
that Mr. Rsllsy would come. too. Then
there was deflsive laughter. and Mr.
Rsiiey eat through u all ss quietly and