Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-02-03
mot 2 STATE FAIRS
DIRECTORS OF AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY OPPOSE PROPOSITION.
1t Will Soon Be Definitely Disposed
Of However-President Hubbard
Thinks 1t Poor Policy to Fight the
State Board, but Secretary Flem-
ing Argues Differently.
Madison. February l.

Madison, February l.
Judging from the expressed senti-
ment of the members Of the board OF
directors of the State Agricultural So
ciety, it seems reasonably certain that
that organization will not hold a state
fair this year. The majority of the
directors seems to be opposed to it.
The matter has not yet been definite
ly settled, however, but the probable
tiles are that it will be some time to-
day. The directors attending the am
nual meeting of the board are: Presi-
dent S. D. Hubbard of MondOVi; Sec
rotary T. j. Fleming of North Green
field; Ralph c.. Vernon Of Madison;
George Wylie of Leeds; George Mar
tin of Hudson; A. L. VannClan and
John F. Durham of Milwaukee; C.
G. Wilcox of De Pere; A. ]. Phillips
Of West Salem; Andrew Simonson of
Racine; ]. G.. Kellogg of Ripon; E.
E. Heimstreet of GAINESVILLE; and E.
NJ. Anderson of Hartford.
The board began it's annual meet
ing in the Agricultural society's rooms
in the capitol Monday afternoon, and
was in session all the afternoon and
evening. Most of this time was given
up to a discussion of the question of
holding a fair this year or OF making a
compromise with the state board of ag-
riculture. The discussion at times
grew acrimonious, but after all the
talk nothing decisive was done, and
the question remains to be fought out
today.
| During the afternoon the directors
spent some time in discussing inform
ally the condition of the affairs of the
that the serious and vital question of
! holding a rival fair to that of the state
! board of agriculture was taken UP in
earnest. Immediately on the question
being raised Mr.. Hubbard, who is also
a member of the state board, was
ject. He said that he wished to he
understood as siding with the Agricul
tural society in the controversy, if
there was to be one, though he is a
member of both bodies. He was, how
ever, opposed to the society trying to
hold fair in competition with the
state board, as the latter was backed
by the annual appropriation of $4,000
from the state, and the good will of
the legislature, while the society would
have neither of these. If the state
board held a fair and ran into debt
! q oiS1a no dalot
! however large, but if the society ran
into debt, even though 1T be S., it
would not get a cent from the state
This would make it necessary for the
members to become liable for the
debts, which was hardly desirable.
Numerous other members followed in
the same strain, and then Secretary
Fleming took the floor and made a
strong speech against making any
compromise with the state board. The
state board, he said, wanted to confer
with the society in March. The So
ciety must begin to make arrange
ments for the fair at once and could
not wait for the March meeting of the
state board. E. M. Anderson of Hart
lord supported Mr.. Fleming, but most
of the other members who expressed
themselves on the question took the
other side of the controversy.
The board adjourned at late hour
until 9 a. m. today at which hour Sec
rotary Fleming was instructed to have
ready complete statement of the at
fairs of the society for the considera-
ton of the directors.