Explanation

On Saturday. June 17th, '93, four of the Board of Directors of the Farmers' Picnic Association of Wayne, Oakland, Livingston and Washtenaw counties met at the Clif ton House, Whitmore Lake, for the purpose of making arrangements for their löth annual picnic. The cali had been made several days previous to this date, according to custom, by the sec'y, each one of the 20 members being notified by mail. A sense of discouragement on account of the apparent lack of interest, was feit, by the four members, who had sacrificed the day, and some money in the interest of the association. After several minutes conversation, however, in which two or three gentlemen of Whitmore Lake took part, the conclusión was drawn that it would be wise to go on with the work, as the smallness of attendance might possibly not be through lack of interest, but, on the other hand, a disposition to let the "other fellow" do the work. Be it said to their credit there was public spirit enough among the four to undertake the thankless job. The committee on location, with the help of Tobias Holmes, made a canvass of the town to raise funds, and the few who happened to be at home responded nicely,($23), yet not sufficiently to warrant holding the picnic at the Lake. The Lake people, s )ine of them thought,however,that in a íew days' time they could raise enough to bear all expenses, so the Committee on location promised to leave the matter open for a week that the cantfass might be more thoroughly made. At the end of a week, this gentleman drove about 20 miles to ascertain the state of the fmances and scarcely one half the needed amount($20)was promised, and the idea of holding it at the Lake had to be abandoned. Ann Arbor then responded so generously tht the Committee feit justifled in locating it at the Fair Grounds, as they had a big enough subscription to bui'd an annex to the grand stand, shaded with enormous awnings, so that the seating accommodations will be far superior to any that would be arranged in a grove. The street car line goes to the gates and the aceommodations for teams are big. The buildings will all be thrown open and a good supply of drinking water has been assured. This explanation has been made, not alone to advertise the picnic, but tliat farmera and others interested might understand that the work has been regulariy done by the proper authorities and with unseliishness on the part of the workers. lt might be well to further state that the Comtnittee on speaker communicated with the Chautauqua Lecture Bureau, seeking for a man of national reputation. Senator Stewart, of Nevada, was promised and Saturday, the l'Jth of August, was selected as the day. In the mean time, Congress was called and the bureau withdrew Senator Stewart's name, and ofl'ered in his stead Gen'l James B. Weaver and Wednesday, August lOth, had to be substistuted as the day to comply with Gen'l Weaver's dates. The change of date was not made to frústrate the plans of the Farmers' Reunión, which had evidently been purposely billed to take place on the same day. Committee.