The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-20
THE NATTER or FAKIRs.

| President Battle called Col. Cunning
| ham TO the chair and moved that tn,
| society go into the election of officers.
Mr.. ]. s. Wynne said that before any
| body was elected the management OF
| the next Fair should be taken up. A
course had been followed that hac
given the Fair black-eye. Floral Hal
was all right but when you went to mid
Way the disappointment began. Mr.. John
T. Pullen. one of the best men in Raj
eigh had said the Fair was not as good
as last year. He believed it was be-
cause there was such a poor midway.
(Mr Broughton: That's a SANDER. y
Thousands of people yesterday had ex-
pressed their disappointment because
the sideshows had been shut out. He
was one of the first to oppose gambling,
but believed in plenty of legitimate
amusements. 1t was true the people
were sometimes humbugged but if
they were not they felt the
Fair was failure. Uaughter). After
the management of the next Fair was
decided on then elect officers and let
the secretary run it without too much
dictation from the executive committee.
Mr.. Broughton said he thought Mr..
Wynne was out of order, but as his
remarks had been a personal reflection
he would reply.
Mr.. Wynne: Il made no reflection. .
Mr.. Broughton: You referred to the
committee and | have been published
as one of the committee" He declared
that he, Mr.. Ashley and Mr. Cowper
had no choice in the matter of shows as
the whole was settled by the nstruc-
III Fish IN, he,
committee had made the rounds Of the
shows,had found gambling devices and
swindling holes" They had condemned
them and he was prepared to stand by
1T. When no action was taken, Il mags-
trate had been sent for, the men ar
rested and convicted. The association
could not afford to say that good Fair
could not be held without shows. The
lions were not there, some of the mon
KEYS were not there, the ''hoochee
couchee' woman was not there but
there were other fairs
Mr.. Wynne interrupted to say that he
had intended no reflection, and asked
If the secretary had not been instructed
to telegraph the fakirs at Hagerstown
not to come.
Mr.. Broughton replied that he knew
nothing of such course.
Mr.. Nichols said that he had advised
that the shows be allowed to come.
Mr.. Brougton: Il have run off no
show that should not have been run off. .
Capt. benson: THAT is mistake,
Mr.. Broughton: Name legitimate
show | have kept away"
Capt. benson: I'VE had the prospect
of some $1,000 for privileges from these
shows. That would have paid some of
the indebtedness we've been talking
about. We had much correspondence
with these people, but somehow no con-
tracts We're made. We found cut finally
that there is "a strong fellow feeling
among these people. The proprietor of
the Tom Thumb railway | reckon that
is moral, it's narrow enough any way
0aughter). told me that these people
We're aggrieyed at the treatment accord
ed them and were not coming, thong
many of them were harmless enough.
/ am opposed to immoral shows as
as anybody; but we are not run
ming the Fair as a State reformatory,
we are trying to pay our debts And |
observe that these people who keep the
fakirs away are not helping us to pay
them. | think Mr.. Nichols is right: the
people came here TO enjoy themselves
and they are not coming if there are
no amusements. Many ladies in this
city have told me that it was mistake
that these shows were kept away"
Capt Denson's speech created some
thing of sensation and was applauded.
Mr.. Broughton denied that his COM
fnfn
that was legitimate. IF" he declared.
the association can not have a fair
without the people being swindled then
the gates of the ground should be closed.
(Applause). To forbid gambling in the
rules and then allow it is an outrage
We are not in the business to make
money for anybody. | ann a humble
member of the society but you can't
vote me out, run me out, talk me out or
write me out, and while | am in | shall
oppose these immoral performances"
Mr.. Battle said he had appointed the
in question and heartily APP
proved of its action. When people were
invited to the fair they should not find
in the grounds people who would cheat
and swindle them. The purpose of the
fair was to improve agriculture and the
people who wanted the shows in ques-
ton had d perverted taste. There were
things more important than the financial
affairs of any institution-one was the
norsals of our youth. If thee was
between the menageries and
gamblers let them all go. AS a law abid-
ng citizen he approved of shutting ~
contrary to the laws of the
State.
No action on the matter was taken.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
Mr.. Battle renewed his motion to go
INTO the election of officers. 1t pre-
vailed and he nominated Mr.. Charles
McNamee, of Buncombe.
Mr. Benehan Cameron seconding the
said that when in 1896 he
was elected president of the society and
found it necessary to get financial back
ing he had appealed to Mr.. McNamee
md Mr.. Vanderbilt. They gave it readi-
" and generous.
Mr.. r. III. Busbee also seconded the
domination in a happy speech in which
be declared that Mr. McNamee had
identified himself with the
interests of the State and his election
would be eminently wise and proper.
Mr.. McNamee was unanimously elect
ed by viva yoce vote. In accepting
he said that he appreciated the honor