The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-09
THE NEXT STATE FAIR
COL. CAMERON HAS RESIGNED
AsITS PRESIDENT.
But Mr.. r. n. Battle, ESQ.,, Has Been
Chosen as His Successor.

AZ llle duuudl ueeClUS OI INOICu
Carolina Agricultural Society in October
last, when Col. Bennehan Cameron, the
popular president, was reelected by
unanimous vote, he stated that it would
probably be impossible for him to serve
another year, in consequence of engage
ments that might require his time and
attention in another direction. He was
then assured by themembers of the So
ciety that he should be relieved in the
event he found it impossible to
serve; in which event the Executive COM
mittee were authorized to select his sue
cessor.
Col Cameron was very anxious to con-
tinue his connection with the Fair, which
was such a grand success under his man.
agement in 1896, but early in the year he
found that his duties in another direc-
ton would absolutely prohibit his person
al attention to the Fair this year. On
finally reaching this conclusion, he ad-
dressed the following letter to the Elk
ecutive committee:
Stagville, March II, 1897.
Messrs. r. H. Battle, w. s. Primrose,
C. b. benson, Julius Lewis, w. e.
Ashley and others, Members of the Elk
ricultureal Society.
Gentlemen: At the annual meeting of
the society held in October, 1896, as you
are aware, l declined to stand for re-
election as president.
The society, however, elected me, but
stated that if l found that | could not
serve the Executive committee might
elect my successor. | now ask the Ex
ecutive committee to do so, as | regret to
say that the conclusion is now forced on
me that it will be impossible for me to
serve. The reasons given at the annual
meeting obtain with greater force now
than at that time.
The work for the coming Fair has not
Jagged since October; but its progress is,
l am glad to say, more advanced than at
this time last year, and we have bright
prospects for a success.
Respectful yours,
BENNEHAN CAMERON.
Upon the receipt Of this letter Secre
tary Nichols called a meeting of the Elk
ecutive committee, for the purpose of
taking the matter into consideration. An
adjournment was had until yesterday,
the Sth inst, in the hope that Col. Cam
eron would be able to see his way clear
to continue in the service and with
draw his letter. At this meeting Col.
Cameron appeared before the committee
and stated that after mature delbera-
ton he found that he could not possibly
serve Whereupon, the Executive COM
mittee proceeded to the selection of his
successor. which resulted in the election
of Mr.. r. III. Battle by unanimous
election in October next
Mr.. Battle was not present, but was
sent for, and when informed of the ac-
ton of the committee, he consented to
serve, feeling that, under the circum-
stances, it was his duty to do so.
The newly elected president is no
stranger to the people of North Carolina,
having been one of the leading citizens of
Raleigh for over thirty years; nor is he
any stranger to the duties of the office
to which he has been called; having here
tofore served for three successive years
as president of the Society, and for the
past several years been the chairman
of the Executive comRaittee. His excel
lent mama cement of the State Fairs held
under his administration will give conf
dence to the public, and the best Fair
ever held will be excelled by that in
October next. No better selection to
succeed the energetic Col. Cameron could
have been made.
The new president will announce his
Executive committee in a few days and
in the meantime the work goes on. The
change will in no way interfere with the
prosects of the next Fair, but every
thing will go on just as if no change had
been made.
1t has been stated that the engage
ments which prevented Col. Cameron
from continuing as president were
promises heretofore made to Mrs. Cam
eron, to take European trip during the
coming summer.
Secretary Nichols informs me that the
work for the coming Fair is now well in
hand, and that the prospects were never
better. Dates have been so arranged
with other Fairs, North and South as to
place the North Carolina Fair in the
great race circuit, which commences in
New York early in September and con-
tinues to the Gentlemen's Driving Park
in Baltimore, then to the Pimlico Driv-
ing Park, to Norfolk, to Raleigh, to Bur-
lington, Fayetteville and other points in
the South. The circuit will be continuous
from it's beginning to the end, and the
purses offered for races will amount to
over sixty thousand dollars. 1t is the
best arrangements that have ever been
made.