The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-19

is unoualf1efiy false The secretary. from
the establishment Of the institution 70
the succession of Gum. was John Reed
one Of the most prominent and prosper
Gus farmers in the Yakima valley, man
against whose probity there has never
been a whisper. Mr.. Reed served for four
years. giving much of his time to the up
building of the fair and his duties as sec
rotary for which he never received cent
of compensation.
The assertion that $3.50 a year was al
lowed the superintendent is both false and
misleading Under the Republican COM
mission a Superintendent was employed.
as was necessary during the construc-
ton of the buildings and later for the
care Of the grounds The superintendent
was never a member OF the commission,
but simply n paid employe.
The Superintendent during the first two
years was Mr.. Bell. a carpenter by
trade. who was fittingly chosen for the
place during the period of construction.
He was paid the ordinary wages Of car
penter by the day when actually employed
In April 1895, Mr.. Bell was succeeded by
r. l.. Van Dusen. then resident OF
North Yakima, and now living at 222s
Fourth avenue. in this city. MFR. Van
Dusen was given TO understand that his
wages would be 500 year. For the first
year he was paid at that rate but in
amount of 1920. the commission decided
that 1t could not afford to allow him
further pay He was asked TO, and as a
matter OF fact did. continue In charge
of the grounds without any compensa-
tion whatever until June 1897 when the
fusion commission assumed office.
Drew No Compensation.
During my time as superintendent"
said Mr., Van Dusen yesterday. to Post
Intelligencer reporter. IT attended every
meeting OF the commissioners to receive
my instructions for work. They were all
earnestly and actively interested in the
fair. and the success of the fair under
their management speaks for itself. I
know of my own knowledge that not one
OF them ever drew cent as compensa-
tion or salary for his office. I often
heard good-natured grumbling about hav-
ing to do so much work vor glory. but
they never relaxed their efforts to carry
on the work as intended by the law"
The fusion legislature OF 1897 appro-
priated $500 for the state fair. From
Mr.. Van Dusen's statement of subsequent
events 1t Is apparent that the first in
tention of Rogers and Snively was that
this money should be quietly used up
without even attempting to give a
fair at North Yakima. The plan
was that no commission should be an
V
terms OF the Republican commissioners.
April I. 1897, caretaker should be put
In charge of the fair grounds and the
appropriation gradually absorbed in I'm
provements."
It is a matter of record that from April
] until early in June there was no state
fair commission. The Republican commits
sioners were nominaly holding over I'M
I'll the appointment Of their successors
hif ~ -
the work. These commissioners were
President Fred Parker. Secretary John
Reed, Treasurer Frank Williams. Dr. Hare
and Sam Cameron As they could do
nothing for the good of the fair they
were anxious to be relieved.
Early in June. 1897 Joseph NJ. Baxter
went out to the fair grounds and in
formed Mr.. Van Dusen that he had re-
ceived a letter from Gov Rogers au-
thorizing him 10 relieve Van Dusen and
take charge OF the fair grounds and prop
erty Baxter stated that the governor
did not intend TO appoint commission.
but simply wanted to have a caretaker
on the grounds.
Van Dusen informed Baxter that Gov
Rogers had no authority to issue any such
order; that state fair commission was
stlll In existence. which had employed him
tvan Dusen). and that he would not re-
linqu'sh his charge except TO a properly
qualified commission or n superintendent
appointed by such a commission.
Consults Mr.. snively.
Baxter went away" says Mr. Van Du-
sen, land returned later. accompanied by
". J. Snively. Snively threatened to Dust
me by law or by force. told him he
had better go look up the law, and that
would take my chances as to force
He said Gov. Rogers had told him to put
Baxter in charge OF the fair property.
and he intended to do Il. would not
give In and they finally went away,
Sniveiy saying that II he found I was
right as TO the law he would go over
10 Olympia at once and have commits
sion appointed. He went to Olympia and
II was not more than a couple OF days
before the appointment OF Baxter. Gum
and the others was announced. They got
together In a hurry and organized. and
a few days later / turned over the place
90 Baxter.
II can't imagine how those fellows could
find a legitimate use for all the money
they have spent" added Mr.. Van Du-
sent Everything was In first-class con-
dition when left; the buildings were all
completed and the grounds In fine shape.