The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-10
MCDONALD is PRESIDENT
HE SECURED ENOUGH VOTES ON THE
FIRST BALLOT.
Downing Again Elected Sec
r~etary-New Members Elected
at the Day Session.

Two separate State Boards OF Agricul-
ture held meetings in the office of Secretary
Charles Downing, in the Statehouse, last
night. The retiring board held its last
meeting for the purpose of settling up the
accounts of the fair last September. After
adjournment the new board, which was
elected yesterday morning, as related else
where, began its first session Immediately
and organized by the selection of Aaron
Jones, president of the old board, to act as
chairman. The first order of business was
the election of a set of officers to serve
during the ensuing year. Mason j. Nib
lack ard E. ]. Robson were chosen to act
as tellers and the election resulted as fol-
lows: James E.. Mcdonald. of Ligonier.
president; John L.. Thompson, of Gas CITY,
vice president: Charles Downing, of Green
field, secretary; J. w. Lagrange. or Frank
lin, treasurer. Messrs. owning and La
grange were chosen TO their respective po-
sitions by unanimous vote. The vote for
president was: Mcdonald, 9; Jones, 6, and
Robson, /.
The term of Victor K. officer, of Madison,
as a member of the state live stock SAM
tary commission. will expire in April, and
under the law it is the duty of the State
Board of Agriculture to recommend to the
Governor, who makes the appointment, a
man to fill the vacancy The names of Mr..
officer and w. T. Beauchamp, of Terre
Haute, were voted for as suitable men to
be recommended for the place. Mr.. Officer
received nine votes and Mr.. Beauchamp
seven. Some debate took place over Chair
man Jones's statement that, In his opinion,
Mr.. Officer is not eligible to hold the posi-
A. -. "a haRnNrCn 4
the fact that he is employed in the govern
ment internal revenue service and the led
eral statutes forbid a man TO hold two Of
fees of trust or profit simultaneously. Mr..
Jones suggested that Mr.. Beauchamp. hav-
ing received the next highest vote, should
be recommended to the Governor for ap-
pointment to the place. The matter was
finally decided by an agreement 10 SEND
the names of both Mr.. officer and Mr..
Beauchamp to Governor Durbin, with the
explanation that, if Mr.. officer is found to
be ineligible, Mr.. Beauchamp shall be con-
sidered as the boards second choice.
OTHER BUSINESS.
The proposition made by DIR. r. C. Light
to rent the fair grounds from the board for
racing purposes at times in the year when
the fair is not being held was laid over
for action at the February meeting.
The new board wrestled with the problem
of what time in the fall is the best to hold
a State fair. The weeks Of September 1921
and 23-2S were considered the most favor
able. The sentiment of the majority of the
members seemed to incline toward the
week of the 18th to the 21st, but several OBJ
jected on the ground that the Odd Fellows
will hold their national encampment in In
dianapolis that week and the anticipated
large crowds drawn by that event might
detract from the financial success of the
State fair. The fact that a. very low rail-
road rate has been secured by the Odd Eel
lows for that week had great weight with
the board, since they realized that 1T would
be next to impossible to secure such a con-
cession from the railroads for the week i'm
mediately following. A motion finally pre-
vailed to leave the matter to the president
and secretary of the board with instruc-
lions to confer with the Odd Fellows and
find out whether the great parade to be
given during their encampment will come
rade be set for a day in the fore part of
the week, the State fair will be held dur-
ing the week of September 1921. If, now-
ever, the parade should be arranged for
Wednesday or Thursday of that week, the
fair will be postponed to the week of Sept.
23-2S.
Retiring President Jones gave up his seat
as chairman to the newly-elected presi-
dent, James T.. Mcdonald, in a graceful
talk. Mr.. Mcdonald responded. pledging
his best efforts toward the success of all
the undertakings of the board. especially
the State fair, and in which he said he
would expect the cooperation of every
member of the board. The last business
transacted was the authorizing of a small
loan to cover outstanding claims and bills
for expenses OF the late fair.