The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-19
AGAINST THE CARNIVAL
IAPORTE MINISTER'S AND CHURCH
PEOPLE STIRRED TO EXCITEMENT.
Work OF Prison Reform Commissions
Gas Meters in Muncie ParlOrs-
General Indiana News.
sneclaI to the Indiananolis Iournal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
LAPORTE, Ind. Aug. 1s.-The ministers
of the city are excited over the announce
ment that Laporte is to have a street fair
and carnival Sept 7-12 Mayor barrow
made contract with an amusement COM
pany to put in a carnival, the city to receive
a certain percentage which would go to-
ward the park fund and for the purpose of
erecting a new bandstand. 1t is estimated
that the citys share of the receipts will
be several thousand dollars. Although a
number of business men were seen before
the contract was signed and they appeared
favorable TO the undertaking, the people in
general knew nothing of the deal until it
was practically closed. There was then a
howl of disapproval from the church people
and objections from merchants. who said
the carnival company would take more
money out of the town than would be left
here by strangers. The claim was also
made that the carnival would hurt the
county fair and race meeting, which comes
the week previous. Undaunted, however,
by this opposition Mayor Darrow is going
ahead arranging for the eventful week.
1t remained for the Rev. Geo. w. Switzer.
pastor OF the First Methodist Episcopal
city, to openly attack the carnival. His
text Sunday evening was, ''He that is not
with me is against me. and he that gather
eth not scattereth abroad The speaker
said il was a rebuke to the spirit OF liber-
alism that tried TO obliterate all distinctions
between the right and the wrong. Men try
10 be liberal, but have TO omit the very
deepest truths that Christ gave to the
world. 1t was urged that every life that
wished to be with Christ must be against
the things that make for vice and the down
fall of character. The coming street fair
brings with it sin and leaves moral wrecks
behind. 1t was stated that every city that
has had street fair knows that with them
there is vice inseparably connected. A car
nival can promise clean entertainments,
but the record has always been that the
promise is not kept. Dissolute characters,
wide open saloons, gambling OF every de-
scription in and out of saloons, enticements
for young men that will tempt them as
they have never been tempted before, vul-
garities, laws broken, officials who are per-
jurers by violating the oaths of their offices
all are left in the wreck. 1t is easy to
see where the profit is. Not to the legiti-
mate business of the city. Not to the eleva-
ton of the intellectual or moral or social
life. Not to the manhood or womanhoOd OF
community. There is nothing but loss to
these. The gambler, the saloon keeper, the
sport, the immoral, these profit in their re-
spective lines. 1t might have been prayed
for God to spare Laporte the curse of a
carnival Whatever is not for Christ Is
against Him. Whatever tends TO increase
drunkenness. gambling. evil associations,
lawIessness, is not with Christ have yet
to hear of a carnival that had not left a
corrupting influence behind. Let the people
of I.aporte be on their guard and ready
to defend the city from corruption and
lawlesSneSS.
1t is possible that the ministers and
church people may take some steps in an
effort. if possible. to prevent the holding Of
the carnival.