The Detroit times., 1911-03-27
ROLLED
BY SECRET PROBE
Says Fair Officials Should Be Present
at Inquiry by Legislative
Committee.

President Thomas Il. Newton, OF
the Michigan State Fair association,
Is inclined TO tnink Inat the investi-
cation OF the organization by the
legislative committee has been stirred
up by former members or the board.
who were disappointed at not being
reelected.
They are welcome to Investigate
all they want to-" said Mr. Newton.
Our books are open TO anybody who
wants 10 look at them and we are per
fectly willing TO step down In favor
OF anybody who wants TO put In the
work that Is necessary to run the or
ganization. Everything has been done
in an open manner and all contracts
have been passed before the whole
board"
A. j. Dougherty, member OF the
board and former superintendent,
says that the talk about the Detroit
Driving club reaping such profits out
OF their lease from the fair associa-
ton is highly exaggerated.
The Driving club did not receive
anything like $4,000 for the bar privi-
| leges," he said. For four days the
club got $500 per day, but the man
who had the concession lost about
$3.50 per day at that price and threw
| ii up.
The club now gets $3.50 per day
| for the privilege. Ii does not look like
a square deal for the committee to
take testimony behind our backs the
way they did this morning. We
should have had the privilege OF list
ening TO the charges, but we are not
afraid OF the result OF the investiga-
| ton"
The investigating committee met In
the Hotel Ste. Claire Saturday morn
ing
Only two witnesses were examined
| by the investigating committee Satur-
| day morning, Andrew j. Crawford.
former director OF the Driving club,
and James Slocum. formerly manager
OF the fair association. Senator Scott,
chairman OF the committee, said that
the present investigation was merely
In the nature OF a preliminary exam
ination TO fnd out what ground was
to be covered and that no report would
be made OF II.
The witnesses were not put on
OATH" he said. I'VE simply wanted to
get general idea OF what testimony
is TO be offered TO determine whether
we should proceed further or not
| That is the reason why the state fair
executives were not invited to be
present. They will have full oppor.
tunity TO answer the charges made
against them when the formal exam
ination takes place II one is held nee.
| essary."
The committee got a surprise when
II arrived in Detroit, Friday, to begin
its inquiry. The. surprise consisted
OF proposal from President Thomas
| Newton, OF the fair association, for
the state to become part manager of
! the fair, the present corporation to
| retain all the financial responsibility
| and Indebtedness. but the state to
have an equal voice in the direction
| OF the exhibition. This proposal
proved a genuine shock to the MEM
bers OF the committee. for they had
no thought that the management OF
the fair entertained any idea of
taking the state in as a partner.
They had been led to believe that
the fair was a regular gold mine for
| the corporation running IT. and that
no outside parties could In any way
have say In its management.
Fred Postal, president Of the fair
in 1910, told the committee that 1t
was very much desired that the state
should become connected with the
fair, because OF the present uncer-
tain condition In regard to the per-
manent location OF the fair. As
matters stand now, Mr.. Postal point
ed out, IL Is possible for any one TO
| buy control Of the fair for about
| $4,000. This control could be se-
cured by the purchase of 1000 mem
bership tickets at 81 each. Each
membership ticket Is worth a vote in
the annual meeting of the fair, and
1000 votes could easily carry any
project suggested by the man In
possession OF them, Mr.. Postal ex-
plained. Thus, the state fair could
be removed to any point outside Of
| Detroit In any annual meeting under
the present conditions.
Mr.. Postal thought, In justice to
the Detroiters who had put up $780,;
900 TO bring the fair to Detroit and
get &: established here. the state
should take steps to become a part
owner Of the fair. He suggested, as
safeguard. that the legislature,
every two years. elect 10 directors
| for the fair, while the fair would
also have like number Of directors,
five elected every year for term Of
| two years. The officers, he said,
should be elected. as now, by the
members, but the state would have
! enough directors on the board to
prevent any antagonistic action to
the welfare OF Detroits interest In
| the exhibition.
Mr.. Postal also explained that the
Detroit Driving club was In no way
running the fair, as intimated to the
legislature. He said that Just three
OF the 2S directors of the fair, Pres
ident Newton, A. J. Doherty and
himself, had an interest in the Driv-
ing club, which rents the fair track.
The committee made an inspection
OF the books Of the fair, Friday, and
also inspected the plant at the fair
grounds.
The committee is composed OF Sen
ator Frank Scott, Alpena, chairman;
Senators Fowle and Watkins and
Reps. Martz 0dell. Hinkley, Clark
and Farmer.
r. L..dl. N.s.r,Ants