The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-08-23
STATE THEIR SIDE.
Modern Woodman Picnic Committee
Addresses Lengthy Letter to
The Public Anent the Picnic.
FAILURE NOT THEIR FAULT.
Committee State That They Did Every
thing to Make the Picnic Success.
No zone Man Power

GRAPH-COURIER:
Mr.. Editor:-Although indisposed to
enter into a newspaper controversy,
the committee for the Modern Wood
men picnic feels obliged to do SO in
order to give the people Of Kenosha
and Racine counties the true version
of the in and outside workings of this
picnic, which has been scandal LIED
through the press editorially, and, we
regret to say it, by Woodmen.
Such advertising does not tend to
better the matter, nor to help the
order. This committee regrets as
much as any one that the picnic was
not more Of a success. The question
arises, what was the cause of this
failure? Was it owing to "a one man
power" as some are pleased to term
this committee, or was it because an
officer, having a high office in the
camp, and is also an officer of the Pic
mic Association, was not on the COM
nittee?
This committee wishes it distinctly
understood that there was no zone
man power" At the first meeting of
the committee H. c. Schulz was elect
ed chairman; c. H. Ernst, secretary;
and Joseph A. Pitts, Treasurer. Mr..
Schulz, as chairman, asked for motion
which carried, that no member of
the committee could take any action
without the consent of a ma jority of
the committee, and this RTE has been
rigid1y enforced all the way through,
as all who had any dealings with the
com mittee can testify. There has at
no time been a zone man powers
The second reason assigned, is too
small to discuss. This committee be-
1ieves that the failure lies wholly in
the fact that owing to the extreme hot
weather the people remained at home,
and that the date Of the picnic ought
to have been three or four weeks
later, which would have given the
country members and friends chance
ances from large number or Camps
that promised to be here in force, but
never took part in the picnic.
A great deal his been said about the
gambling devices. The committee in
tended to have only one wheel of for
tune on the grounds for the purpose of
giving visitors and others share at
that pleasure, and if possible, make
some money for the committee to pay
the heavy expenses with. The COM
mittee believed and believe now, that
wheel is necessary adjunct to pic
mic, besides they had no other way of
paying these expenses. But after this
wheel was engaged trouble started.
Another wheel had bought the privil-
eye from owners of the ground oppo-
site the speakers stand and inmedi-
ate1y adjoining the dining hall. This
the committee prevented being placed
there, by giving this wheel the privi1-
eye of grounds away from the place
CT ceremonies. Then the saloon came
and staked out, ready to put up place
for business on the same ground. The
committee prevented this in the same
way. A number of small games, cane
racks, doll racks, etc. made application
for privilege on the grounds. Some
obtained these and did business as
they represented it, while others
started skin games. These were put
tee had one complaint made to that
effect. While they were put off one
part of the ground they went to an
other spot and started afresh, until the
committee heard of it and expelled
them again. A number of Kenosha
citizens came into the grounds with
their outfits, set them in position,
never asked or paid for the privilege
and refused to leave the ground.
1t has been stated that this picnic
was not sanctioned by the Racine and
Kenosha Counties Picnic Association
and that it was only a local reunion.
This is not true. This picnic was in
every way the association picnic, but
was given by the Kenosha camp, who
must bear all the expenses, and IN
some instances were asked to bear the
personal expenses of members ofsthe
Racine and Kenosha association. The
whole trouble lies in the fact that one
Of the officers of the association in
vited Mr.. Bohmrich to speak without
consulting lL1O 1OSol NOl11ll1llOC' Liz
was turned down, but not for personal
reasons, nor political reasons, but that
he was not Woodman.
But why has all this kick been made?
Has any one a kick coming? Was
anybody asked to contribute? Has
anybody lost any money? None ex-
cept those who had concessions on the
grounds were there as spectators and
took their chances with the rest OF us.
We sincerely trust that you will
give this communication the same
valuable space that the articles ad-
verse to the committee had, and not
feeling ashamed to attach our sigma
lures to this, as others not quite as
honest in their profession of Wood
craft, we subscribe ourselves
Very truly yorrs,
H. C. SCHULZ,
c. H. ERNST,
Jos. A. PITTS.