The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-06
A DARK HORSE ELECTED
CHARLES DOWNING PRESIDENT OF
STATE AGRICULTURAL BOARD.
Leading Candidates Unsuccessful-A
String Tied 40 the State Trans
fer Proposition.

The Delegate State Board of Agriculture
adjourned at noon yesterday after the cleo.
ton of new members of the state board
proper and an animated discussion of the
proposition to surrender the property OF
the board to the State. The following mem
bers of the board were reelected for an
other two years: First district, John {.
Haines, of Lake; Second district, Mason }.
Niblack, of Vincennes; third district, W. w.
Stevens, of Salem; Seventh district, II. d.
Rowland, of Rowland; Fifteenth district,
Aaron Jones, of South Bend, and Sixteenth
district, James T.. Mcdonald, OF IIgoner.
In the Fourteenth district Colt Burnett, or
Logansport, was chosen to succeed Z. b.
Harris, the retiring president, and in the
Fourth district e. II. Robinson of Frank
lin, defeated j. w. Lagrange, also of
Franklin, this being the only district in
which there was a contest.
The discussion of the subject of surren-
dering the rights of the board d private
corporation to the State came up ON the
report of the committee on the presidents
address. In this address the suggestion was
made favoring the idea, and the committee
approved the suggestion and recommended
that a committee be appointed to draft
suitable proposition to be laid before the
next Legislature. Ex-Governor Matthews
set forth the arguments in favor of the
step. He said that the Legislature was be-
coming more and more reluctant i'll extend
ing assistance to the board for the reason
that it was a private corporation. BY MAX
ing the board a state institution Mr..
Matthews thought that it would be in a
position to go to the Legislature and de-
mand it's rights. He was in favor of con-
fIrA IF al a
board members. Although the Ex-Governor
made a strong speech, yet 1T is said he
could have made it stronger had ne seen
fit 1t is said on good authority that at
the last meeting of the Legislature 1t was
found necessary to expend quite little
money in log rolling in order to prevent the
annual appropriation of $4,000 from being
cut off, and the leaders of the board recog-
nize that it is only matter or one or TWO
legislatures when this assistance from the
State will be withheld unless something is
done. The fair last fall was abnormally
successful, and yet Notwithstanding the
heavy receipts and the state appropriation,
the board has only 81 $50 cash on hand at
the present time. 1t is feared by many or
the board that with the cutting of OF the
appropriation the fair will be a losing
venture, and that it is now an opportune
OCCASION while the board Is out OF debt, TO
stand from under and throw the burden of
future success of the fair upon the State.
OPPOSED TRANSFER TO STATE.
A number of the board members, however,
strenuousy opposed the idea. Aaron Jones,
of South Bend in particular was emphatic
for the continuance of the board as a pri-
vate organization. He said it had success
fully carried out its purposes in the past
and had accumulated a large amount OF
property He thought that if the board sur
rendered it's rights the Legislature would
go further and would make the member
ship of the board appointive, abolishing the
-r.1 ~fn1cr
a football for designing politicians. Robert
Mitchell also supported Mr.. Jones' and the
debate with these gentlemen on one SIDE
and Mr.. Matthews on the other WIS a warm
one The final outcome of the matter was
a partial compromise committee con-
sisting of James e. Mcdonald, of Ligonier;
Matthews of Clinton, and Charles Downing,
of Greenfield. was given the duty OF framing
bill in accordance with the idea OF max
ing the board a public institution, without
abolishing the present methods of electlng
it's members. The report of this committee
is to be laid before the meeting of the dele
gate board next year, and if then approved
it IS to be presented to the Legislature
Other recommendations embodied in the
presidents report were taken up The Sug-
gestion that the land now leased by the
board for the fair be purchased was not
approved there being a doubt as to the
propriety of undertaking the matter at TINS
time. OF the PA acres occupied by the fair
grounds only eighty acres are owned by
the board, the balance being leased at sly
l.
months longer and may then be renewed
for seven years, the board having the right
at any time to buy the land for 500 an
acre. There is a strong impression among
some of the members that not only the rem
tai charge. but the stipulated purchase
price, is exorbitant. The board would nke
10 buy the land, but has no means at It's
command for raising the necessary money
The recommendation of the president that
particular attention ana ENCOURAGEMENT pe
given to the education of the boys on the
farms was heartily approved. Another rec
concentration that complimentary tickets be
prevail of the executive committee, was also
approved. A set of resolutions commenda-
tory of President Harris were adopted
DOWNING CHOSEN PRESIDENT.
In the afternoon the state board proper
held an executive session for the election
of officers. When the doors were opened IL
was found, with some surprise, that neither
James E.. Mcdonald nor w. w. Stevens, the
two candidates for president, had peen
chosen for that position. Charles Downing
of Greenfield, who seems to have been
dark horse, had been elected to the coveted
honor. The other offices were hlied as loi-
lows: w. w. Stevens, of Salem, vice presi-
dent; Charles f. Kennedy secretary; =. j.
Robson treasurer; John l.. thompson; SUI
perintendent. E. II. Peed, VINO mas pe san
superintendent for years, was les 1u ~
the reason that the board had aQopteu d
resolution that the superintendent should pc
chosen from the members OF the ooaru;,, ! ne, ne
eIaction Of ianitor was postponed until the
February meeting when premium lists ana
other matters will receive attention, =
Upon a motion by Mortimer LeVerlhg, d
committee was appointed to confer with a
committee from the Board of Trade s and OF. Of
fer the use of the fair grounds lor i me
knights of Pythias upon such reasontapls
terms as can be obtained. 1t is understood
that this tender of the grounds does Toes not 1
abridge the right of the board 60 n9ld tits
are in the city. The time of holding the falr
is stll mooted question to be settled later
The board adjourned to meet az the cdll VI
the president next month
THE GOVERNORS SHEEP RAISING.