STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 109 



Mrs. Knox, delegate from the Santa Clara Agricultural Society, 

 nominated Jesse D. Carr, of Santa Clara. 



Dr. J. F. Montgomery, of Sacramento, moved that the Directors be 

 elected one at a time, instead of upon a common ticket. He nomi- 

 nated Fred. Cox, of Sacramento. 



Hon. T. J. Clunie nominated Hon. Marion Biggs, Sr., of Butte, and 

 remarked upon the propriety of reelecting Messrs. Cox, Boruck, and 

 Biggs, who had served many years, been untiring in their efforts for 

 the success of the society, and inaugurated reforms which might be 

 impaired by their defeat. 



Hon. George S. Evans, of Stockton, seconded the nomination of 

 Mr. Boruck. He did so as a member of the San Joaquin Agricult- 

 ural Society and in its name, and testified to the satisfaction of his 

 society with the conduct and labors of that gentleman. 



Mr. Curtis, of San Francisco, by request, withdrew the name of 

 Jesse D. Carr. He sketched the history of the Salinas Valley, which, 

 by the enterprise of such men as Mr. Carr, has grown to be one of 

 the most populous and wealthy in the State, It had been thought 

 such a county should have a member on the Board, and hence a 

 friendly contest had been made for a directorship in behalf of one 

 of the citizens of that section, a representative man and the choice 

 of the people of his locality. He charged, with much intemperate 

 heat, that rings controlled the election of Directors and perpetuated 

 the present Board, and that it was useless to try to change its com- 

 plexion. 



Mr. Johnson replied, denying the charges of Mr. Curtis, and pro- 

 tested that no such feeling predominated. 



Hon. Creed Haymond, of Sacramento, said he came to vote for 

 Mr. Carr, that his section of the State might have a representative 

 on the Board. Pie had leave and was requested to withdraw the 

 name of Mr. Cox, and ask the election of Mr. Carr instead. 



Mr. Johnson said he knew of no ring ; he had the reputation of 

 hitting rings. All the ring he could conceive of was that the nine 

 men now on the Board had given their personal obligations for the 

 debts of the society, and they ought to be retained in management 

 until they could free themselves from that liability, and efforts in 

 that direction were for the benefit of the society and every part of 

 the State. He could add to the eulogy passed on Mr. Carr, but 

 thought this not the time now to change horses in the management 

 of the society. 



Mr. Biggs, as a Director, said there was no ring. He declared no 

 frauds or corruptions had ever been known in the Board since he 

 was a Director — nothing but sincere, honest work for the best inter- 

 ests of the State, and he knew that to be the fact. He had attended 

 every meeting but one, coming from the far north of the State, and 

 bore evidence to the honesty of purpose and integrity of every mem- 

 ber of the Board. In defense of the Directors, he declared it was 

 false to say that any ring existed in it. He asked for himself to be 

 left at home, but for God's sake, under no consideration, leave Mr. 

 Cox off. The society could not get a better or more experienced Sup- 

 erintendent, and Mr. Cox ought to be retained. He solemnly assev- 

 erated that every act of the Directors had been in the interests of the 

 society, and to make it an honor to the State and of practical value to 

 all the people and every branch of agriculture. 



Hon. George S. Evans said the charges made here were im- 



