The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-21
Says He is the One Referred
10 as ''ReguIatOT"
OPPOSED TO SUNDAY FAIRS
Was invited to Call on Manager Mac
Knight, Who Read Him Lecture
On His LittIeness and
Narrowness.

The Rev. 5. P. West has written the
following card to The Age-Herald stating
his attitude towards the state fair. which
ne does not wish open on Sunday He
says that he is the one whom General
Manager MacKnight spoke of in an inter-
view recently as a regulator" with
mo. 10 foot" Following Is the card:
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
General Manager MacKnight seems to
have given out statement that Is SO
misleading that I desire a little space in
your columns to make a statement. He
says:
"A regulator of public morals and
everything in general called at the state
fair headquarters yesterday, and putting
down his No. 10 foot with dull, slclxen-
ing thud, exclaimed to General Manager
MacKnight:
We can't allow your fair to go on II
you are going to advocate pool selling
and open your show on Sunday" etc.
The only part OF the above that is true
is that called at the office of Mr.. Mac
Knight. I went on his invitation He had
called at M office. I was not in. He left
an invitation for me to come to see him.
had m my hand the following quota
ton from one Of the afternoon papers;
The Clipping.
Chairman Rndulph of the police COM
mission yesterday called a special meet
ing of that body for last night at the
request of Commissioners Mobley, Nc
Cary. Parker and Stradford to confer
with three state fair officials. Only
three of the commission (Afessrs Mobley,
Parker and Rudolph were present at the
hour designated IN the office of Chief Of
Police Austin. and as this number did not
constitute quorum no meeting was held.
]. H McCary and Mr.. Stradford were i'll.
THE state fair officials. President A.
u Krebs, Eugene Flies. superintendent of
racing, and Fred Marx were present
These officials are DESTROYS of ascertain
ing the attitude of the ssolice commits
sioner respecting privileges on the
grounds, ETC.. during the fair.
1.-THE police department at the fair that
was held In 1900 nearly spoiled the racing
feature so far as the sport and the bet
ting were. concerned by rigidly. enforcing
the anti-pool. selling law.
Chief Austin said this morning that
the anti-pool law would be enforced this
year, too"
Could Not Advertise II.
I told Mr.. .MacKnigit that I was con-
nected with a religious newspaper, and
If there was to be gambling, and the fair
was to be opened on Sunday, 1 could not
advertise 1t. Where upon General Mana
ger MacKnight, without great coolness'
and without proper "decorum" began to
read me lecture on my littleness, and
narrowness and bigotry, saying that he
had been In France and Germany and
elsewhere. that he had seen things him.
self. and that needed to go some where
and see something. He said he did not
mean me personally. but my class. AS
to gambling, he said the very cream Of
all the churches were in that bucket
shop across the hall from his office all
day. When I had grown weary of his
TRADE Of abuse against the churches l
suggested to him as much.
l did not say one word about this mat
ter outside of my office I have no de-
pA fWndSCVcN " lne bIdLe IdlT,
provided the managers do not violate the
law of God and the law of the land in
the conduct of this fair.
Is Congress Regulatory
AS to his sarcastic reference to me as
"a regulator of public morals. and every
thing In general" I only desire to call
his attention to the fact that the con-
gress of the United States refused to
make an appropriation to the World
fair to be held in st. Louis in 1904 until
they were assured that the fair would
be closed on Sunday. Does the house
and senate thus become regulator of
public morals?
May not !, as a minister, In my con-
nection with a religious newspaper, go
as far as the honorable gentlemen who
compose the congress of the United
States? Why does he not denounce them
as regulators of public morals?''
Properly conducted, 1 am for the state
fair. But unsolicited and entirely gra-
tuitions on my part. l want to put the
management on notice that If the moral
sentiment of this country is disregarded
and trampled under foot In the manage
ment of this fair, then the ignominious
failure of the fair in 1900 was small in
comparison with the failure this one will