The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-19
OVER THE MANILA" FAKE
STATE AGRICULTURAL BOARD RE-
FUSES TO PAY CONTRACT PRICE.
Show Was Too Wretched-State VIII
Be Asked to Take Charge
of the Fair.

with spectacular enterprises After this the
State fair will have to pull through on it's
race-track reputation and its merits as a
pumpkin Show" There will be no more
reproductions of great naval engagements
with pyrotechnic trimmings The fair
boards recent experience with Pains Bat
tie of Manila" has taught lesson. Some
of the state fair officials who had the active
management of the exhibit just closed are
not a little chagrined over the artistic
manner in which they were "held up by
the representative of the Pain concern. The
officers have no hesitancy in declaring their
disappointment over the spectacular feature
of the fair, which they characterize as
something OF a fake" 1t was the under
standing when the fair board contracted for
thetDewey spectacle, so it is claimed, that
the production was to be equal, if not bet
ter, than anything the Pains had ever
given. The contract provided that the board
would pay $500 for the spectacle if it proved
to be all it was represented to be. The
question which is now bothering the board
is how much the Battle of Manila" was
really worth.
The spectacle with the fireworks display
was given on Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday nights. Treasurer Robson ad-
vanced $500 to Pains representative on the
first night of the spectacle, which was to
be used in paying those who assisted in the
production. The state fair officers, after
witnessing the spectacle the first night,
agreed that it was something of a disap-
pointment. On Thursday morning, when
]. A Bichanney, agent for Pain, learned
there was dissatisfaction, he expressed
much regret and admitted that the produc-
vito V1x yn1x a "
was not up to the standard. He explained
that the show had been given under diff
culties and promised a better display for
Thursday night. The fair officials accepted
the explanation and relied on the promise
of finer entertainment
Thursday night the weather was good and
a large crowd packed into the amphitheater.
A few minutes before the affair was to
begin Agent Biehanney presented himself
at the secretary's Office There he made the
cool announcement that unless the fair Of
ficials planked down the sum of $1,000 there
would no Battle of Manila" and no fire
works. The agents declaration created con-
sternation among the officials in the office
and Treasurer Robson was summoned.
Agent Biehanney repeated his cheering an
nOuncement to the treasurer. Mr. Robson
declared there would be no cash forthcom-
ing. He informed the agent that there was
not 81, 600 that could be paid out for this
purpose on the grounds All the money had
been sent down town to the bank and the
treasurer declared that the agent could not
work that kind of a game on the fair board:
Agent Biehanny was obdurate and cool and
asserted that the money must come or there
would be no show. He gave the officers time
think over the matter and they decided 1t
would be impossible to try to refund the
price of admission to those who had come
out to the grounds.
Agent Biehanney consented to take the
treasurer'S check for 900 and the instru-
ment was quickly executed. The Battle of
Manila lllen proceeded. The agent made
no further demand for money, and the spec
s,1l@ in trid do nj o. ar
the final performance the state fair Off
Gals declared their unwillingnesS to pay for
something they did not get and they found
themselves unable to make satisfactory
settlement with Biehanney The latter pro-
posed that the matter be submitted to
Pains business representative, whose head
Gals agreed to this. The sum of 81 200 has
already been paid on the three nights pro-
duction. The fair board may. consent to in
crease the amount to $500, but will object
to paying more than this.
Treasurer Robson says the fair was big
success in the way of exhibits, but was a
heavy failure financially. The small attend
arce and the condition Of the track, which
prevented racing, is, of course, attributed
sources for the entire week were $24, ia. SO.
About $21 900 was taken in at the gates and
at the amphitheater at night. Following
were the receipts from paid admissions each
Thursday $S,73450 Friday, $5,754.75. Last
year Friday was the big day of the week.
taken in at the gates as was received DUR
ing the entire week this year. Treasurer
Robson says the big racing events of last
year made the fair. The people attended
becarse of the famous flyers advertised and
not because they desired to see the fair.
This year, according to the treasurer. the
people were ripe" for the fair and had the
weather been favorable the institution
would have enjoyed the biggest week in it's
history.
1t is the opinion of some. members of the
board that the fair will be managed ex-
clusively by the State after this. At the
meeting of the Board of Agriculture last
January the question of turning the state
fair over to the State was discussed and it
was so favorably received that a commit
tee was appointed to carry a proposition to
the next legislature There is a feeling
that the next fair will be given under the
direct supervision of the State. 1t is sug
gested that the exhibit will probably be
managed by a board consisting of the Gov
ernor, attorney general. auditor and pos
sibly the secretary of state.
Treasurer Robson thinks the deficit on
account of this years financial failure will