STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 35 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



The Board of Directors of the State Agricultural Society held their 

 annual meeting at the Secretary's office on Friday, January 27, 1888. 

 Present — Directors Boggs, Chase, La Rue, Green, Shatter, Hancock, Cox, 

 Rose, Singletary, and Shippee. 



The meeting was called to order by President L. U. Shippee. 



The minutes of the meeting held November 28, 1887, were read and 

 approved. 



Mr. Dana Perkins, who was appointed to take the place of P. A. Fini- 

 gan, presented his commission and oath of office, and a certificate of its 

 filing within the time prescribed by law in the office of the Secretary of 

 State. 



Mr. Finigan came in a few moments after the meeting had been called, 

 and asked that his name be called, as he desired to be noted present. 

 Said he: 



" I desire to know what action this Board proposes to take in my case, 

 and want my name called. I claim to be a member of this Board, legally 

 commissioned and qualified, and I am instructed to make this demand by 

 my counsel. Here I have documentary evidence to prove that my qualifi- 

 cation was made within the specified time. I have done everything during 

 the fifteen years I have served on this Board that a good and loyal citizen 

 could do to advance the interests of the society, and I don't propose to be 

 kicked out by a few in the State Department, backed by others whom in 

 times gone by I have befriended. I must qualify within ten days after I 

 receive my commission, and I have with me documents to prove it. Judge 

 Garber says my case is a good one, and he will take it and win, or charge 

 me no fee. I have seven other attorneys ready to do the same thing. They 

 know I am right, they know I have done my duty, and they will not see 

 me abused. I have been vilified by some members of this Board whom I 

 have befriended." 



Judge Shatter interrupted Mr. Finigan, saying he hoped the gentleman 

 would not indulge in personalities. He said he was not present at a* former 

 meeting when Mr. Finigan impugned the acts and motives of his colleagues. 

 He for one would protect Mr. Finigan in all his rights, but personalities 

 should not enter into the controversy. 



Mr. Finigan said that being the case, he had no more to say on that 

 score. He was perfectly willing to leave his case in the hands of such a 

 man as Judge Shatter. He was entitled to his seat in the Board, and 

 the Governor in attempting his removal was doing him an injustice. The 

 Governor had been ill-advised, and he proposed, if the Board refused him 

 his seat, to carry it to the Supreme Court. He remarked, "I can get a 

 decision from the Supreme bench in this matter inside of ten days." 



Judge Shatter, to whom Mr. Finigan appealed, took the floor, and in a 

 few moments reviewed the entire case. He said the real question was 

 which of these two gentlemen are entitled to this office. We cannot, as a 

 Board, decide this question. In most cases a public body is a judge of its 

 own members, and can decide in case of contests. We, however, have no 

 such power. There is no provision of law by which we can take such 

 action. If a gentleman is sent here with proper vouchers we must recog- 



