The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-03
MEETING OF THE BOARD.
Yesterdays Session Occupied with
Official Reports.

in forty-second annual convention at 9
o'clock yesterday morning. President V.
K. Officer called the convention to order.
Secretary Kennedy called the roll of county
and district societies, which showed repre-
sentatives present as follows: Robert Car
rick, Frankfort; A. E. Lyman, Muncie;
John c. Childs, Greensburg; Philip F. Nye,
Goshen; George w. Morrison, Connersville;
Robert Mitchell, Princeton; j. L. Thomp-
son, Gas City; d. ]. Terhune, Linton: j. p.
Davis, Sheridan; Marion Steel. Green
field; j. a. Miller, Corydon; L.
C. Phelps, New Castle; Joseph NJ. Cravens,
Madison; j.. W. Myers. Queensville; Will
liam NJ. Province, Franklin; NJ. J. Brown,
Hebron; w. y. Banks, LaPorte; A. c..
Shortridge. %Irvington; w. p. Dill, Bloom
ington; John L.. Davis, Charlottesville; j.
e. Mcdonald, Ligonier; W.. NJ. Franklin,
Spencer; James B~rockway, Rockville; w.
A. Oliphant, Petersburg; Il. S. Beach, Val
paraiso; j. NJ. Edwards, Bainbridge; o. NJ.
Smith, Gings; Sid Conger, Fiat Rock;
Frank Mccartney, Lagrange; NJ. w. Cor
man, New CarlisIe; c. Johnson, Lafay-
cite; Jonathan Wolverton. Upton; Robert
A. Mitchell. Princeton; II. d. Roquet, Terre
Haute; J. II. DePuy, Wabash; Il. D.. VIII
liams, Salem; Thomas s. Lamb, Benton
-CuIIly , 4 VI. ND III, IlOoStOH, dillt MI
Coy, Vincennes; j. ID. Owen, Posey county;
ID. L. Hoffman, Winchester; j. $. Haines,
Spencer county; NJ. A. Judy. West Leba-
non: II. H. Ward. Madison; L.. p. Newly,
Knightstown; j. A. McCluEg, Wagoners;
r. VI. L~ockhart, Waterloo; ID. w. Place,
South Bend; F. M. Miller, Vevay; w. w.
Stevens, Salem; John Bowman, Richmond,
and David Weldon, Kentland.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS,
The m on credentials consisted of
W. A.. Banks, ]. Nj. Sankey, John Child,
w. Morgan and Alex. Oliphant. President
officer then delivered his annual address.
He said in part:
The experience of fair managers reveals
the fact that every year presents new
points To be considered and new dangers
to be avoided. While this is true of every
year Ii is applicable in a superlative de-
gree To the year just closed. The year 1893
was ushered i'll with bright prospects and
a hopeful outlook for oil mankind and for
every interest. The farmers of Indiana
had just closed "a year that had yielded
abundantly; the breeders of almost all
kinds OF live stock felt that they lived in
a favored land; the great Columbian expo
sition. which was intended to and did sur
pass in all respects all exhibitions OF evS
cry kind heretofore attempted, was TO be
opened to the world; visitors from every
nation and from every country on the
globe were to visit our neighboring city,
ana very MANY eApItSStu lutli OplIilOIl
that this was Indiana's opportune time.
So imbued with the feeling of unalloyed
success were those in attendance at the
last delegate board meeting, that when w.
". Stevens moved that we hold d fair in
1893, there were very few, If any, dissent
ing voices. None were prophets enough to
see the cloud of financial depression that
has, for months, o~verhung and continue to
shadow our Nation, and few were strong
In the belief that the worlds fair, the Ma
t,onaI Encampment and other counterfeit
inn Influences would effect to SO great GN-
tent, the State fair. The prophet OF mold
ing the State fair in 1898 was once more
carefully considered at the meeting of the
State board held in February After the
question was weighed the board, with one
exception, felt it their duty 70 hold the
fair. 1t is justice that L should say that
there were none of the opinion that the fair
would more than pay its expenses, while
others were less ~sanguine. That the re-
suit was a surprise to all, L presume Is
conceded. 1 have taken some trouble to
investigate the general causes that have
contributed TO the results that nave OBJ
tanned. To do this l have directed a cor
respondence with the managers of other
State and territorial fairs, and the lnVar1-
able reply was, our fair was a nnanclal
failure These manaSerS olner as 10
some of the causes, but al agree that the
financial depression, the WORLDS Iar, ana,
in some localities, a shortage In crops,
have operated to bring disaster TO their
exhibitions. These apply with equal force
to the Indiana State fair, but 10 theSe We
must add the depressing effect or the Ma
tiOnal EncampmelI, WHICH, just lWO WcShS
prior to our fair, brought from all points
i'm the State our every year patrons, who
could. By coming at that time, secure a
lower rate than we were able 10 offer, and
could see and mingle with the OLD soldiers
To get these TO return again in two weeks
was out of the question. Hence, | assert
that Indiana. from her close proximity TO
the worlds fair, and the effect OF the Ma
tional Encampment, was burdened with
barriers at least twofold greater than other
State fairs.
II believe that to here offer a comparative
statement, using the experience of this
board during the centennial year 1876, viii
place the delegates and others that are in
upon the work OF this board. Consulting the
report for 1876, / find that the total receipts
for the fair were S~6,342.9O, the expenses $l4,-
500. ~, leaving a shortage of $S,326.53. BY a
comparison / find that the loss of the year
1876 was almost 81 per cent. of the total eX-
pense, while the loss of the past year viii
not be quite SO per cent. Of the outlay and
expense we have undertaken. While the loss
is a very large one and is greatly TO be de-
plored. we have the encouragement that this
is not the worst year the State board has
experienced.
1.-THE fair is over; you know the result.
Ii may, however. be interesting for you TO
know why the board elected to pay the pre-
ment of them. While this rule has been
printed for many years. IL is also true that
the board has never availed itself OF its con-
ditions. The precedent thus established has
led exhibitors to expect and 70 depend upon
having their winnings paid in full, and when
the board at the fair was confronted with
q shortage. with the history of the manage
ment of the affairs of the board before them
and cognizant OF the result on future fairs,
should they refuse TO pay the premiums.
they, without a dissenting voice, elected 10
paw these premiums in fll as soon as the
money could be procured through the sale