Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-10
PREACHERS SOUND a WARNING.
Express Their Fears and Hopes RE-
- e.sa;ra Ala Gns.;aa Carnival

Express Their Fears and Hopes Re-
garding the Coming Carnival
Following the experience OF other
cities with carnivals and Of our own
city with the recent flremen's tourna-
ment the ministers of this city have met
to discuss the dangers of the Marshall
town carnival and have united in adj
dressing to the carnival company and
to the public at large the following
warning and appeal:
Editor Times Republican,: AS pas
tors of churches in Marshalltown we
wish to publicly express our views, and
what we believe to be the almost unani-
nous sentiment OF our congregations.
respecting the carnival to be held in our
city on Sept. 20 to 2S.
We understand this carnival to be a
private enterprise by a stock company,
incorporated by six of our fellow citi-
zens. sustained at their personal risk,
and with a prospect of personal gain
BY our knowledge of the character Of
carnivals and street fairs held in other
towns and cities OF our state, we are led
to fear that an effort will be made to
secure from this carnival company con-
cessions, or privileges, for exhibitions
and practices which are not in accord
with law or good morals The expert
ence in other places has been that the
concession asked was for a lawful
thing: but that the show given was an
immoral and unlawful exhibition.
We think that every one will agree
that gambling, obscenity and kindred
practices, which are evidently immoral
and in violation of law. are no less
harmful because financially profitable to
Individuals and corporations: also that
theresis no excuse In reason to sustain
them or tolerate them for particular
week more than any other time of year.
We believe that no officer who is
sworn to enforce all laws against crime
can be Indifferent to their violation
within his knowledge without perjury
and treason to his commonwealth.
I'VE consider the expression, Every
body his own police used In advertising
the carnival. most unfortunate. While
to the worthy citizen 1t means nothing
more than that he is put upon his hon
or to obey the law, and is, in his case.
utterly gratuitous and uncalled for by
the law-breaker 1t will be accepted as a
practical promise OF no legal interfer-
ence with whatever he pleases to do
What could be more inviting to the
criminal class?
I'VE believe 1t is the deep desire Of the
great majority OF Marshalltown's citl-
zens to have nothing immoral or un-
lawful in this carnival. We ask the
Marshalltown Carnival Company and
all other law-abiding citizens to unite in
en- unceasing determination to repress
all unlawful and immoral practices, and
10 prevent attractions from exceeding
the limits Of lawful contracts. We hope
the management will determine that so
far as in their power the coming Mar
|shalltown carnival shall be at least one
case in the state where q carnival will
not be an offense to all good people, and
will see to 1t that the good name of our
city shall be maintained.
&c. p. BOARDMAN.
IS. sKOGsBERG,
wv. H. SCOTT,
F. w. RUSSELL,
'MORTEN PARSON,
F.. w. PARSONS.
~. II, FELLINGHAAf,
IF. M. COLEMAN
Rev. Coleman who brought the COM
munication to this office, stated that he
was not opposing the carnival now and
did not want to PREJUDICE 1t. but that
knowing what other carniyals had been
he wanted to urge upon the citizens Of
Marshallt0wn the necessity Of guarding
their carnival from ali such evfl tonden-