The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-01-13
THE STATE FAIR.

win be sprung upon the Legislature.
asking them to give several thousand
dollars annually Of the peoples money
: 10 the support and maintenance OF
so-called State Fair.
The Herald il opposed to the bin fol
4 great many reasons. First. we
believe all such appropriations are an
abuse Of the taxing power. We hold
somewhat tenaciuusly to the old
fashioned democratic doctrine Of the
fathers. that no taxes should be levied
OF collected, save for the economical
administration Of government
The Supreme Court OF Kentucky has
recently held thst an appropriation
made by the legislature Of that State
70 State FAIR, was unconstitutional.
II IL both legally and morally wrong.
Servants of the people have no night 70
give away the peoples money 70 boost
special. private enterprises. They
have no right to tax ali for the benefit
Of few. And q State Far. every
fair.minded man win admit. VIII
reach ana benett a comparatively fe"
of the people Of Tennessee.
Outside of DAVIDSON county. where
It will ~ held, it Will hurt more than
Il VII he J. 1t will not add one
farthing 10 the price OF wheat OF
corn OF oats or hay or potstoes in
Maury county, nor 10 the value OF the
land. But 30 per cent Of the people
who will not be in the least benefited
will be taxed just the same for the
benefit OF the few. the ~ per cent, who
will, OF think they will be benefited.
Not only will this 90 per cent be
taxed for the DeneHt of the ten per
cent, but the further fact is. that TINS
90 per cent cannot afford further tax
alton. They as class are the small
farmers who till the ground for
living. They do not own fine biooded
horses, OF hogs or sheep OF cattle.
They are PLAIN ivers. and hard
workers, and have neither the means
nor the time to bedeck themselves
or their rigs for the premium ring.
And they should not be taxed for blue
ribbons for their more favored neigh
bors.
The state Fair at Nashville, woula
damage every merchant IN Maury
county. There would not be mer'
chant IN Columbia, Mt. Pleasant.
Spring Hill. CuIleoka OF any cross
roads in the county that would not fee
the loss of trade during Far week.
1t would hurt the merchants of Maury
yastly more than it would help the live
stock interests, and the merchants
should not be taxed for something they
are almost to man opposed to. ano
which would damage each and every
one OF them directly.
The bill provides. or will provide
20 we are informed. for the appoint
ment of seven commissioners, ant
that thirty days after the appoint
ment of these commissioners bids viii
he opened from the different towns II
the state for the permanent location O
the Fail"
That is a eaten clause. pure ant
ample. 1t Is TO open the way for u
suggestion that Columbia OF Murfrees
poro. or some town other than Nash
vile might he chosen. But that j
ali huncombe. Neither Muifreesboro
Columbia, ncr any other town woul'
have ghost of chance over Nashville
Nashville IS the logical place for it
The commissioners from East and Yves
Tennessee would vote for Nashville
because of its accessibility. Why sEoul'
all the West Tennessee contingent be pu
TO the additional trouble and expeY -
changing cars at Nashville and made :
no on 50 miles further. the commits
sioners from West Tennessee would ASK
And the commissioners from East i.n
nesse would ask the same questia n
And at least one of the commission Ell
for Middle Tennessee. and I Pr 81
OF the State, and the people. would ash
the same. And the question woult
not be easy to answer. And Columbus
would have no more chance for tn
Fair than Mt. Pleasant had for tn
Court House, and no one need hug tina
deiusiye hope for an instant. Least Q
all would we expect Representative
Lipscomb and Long to be caught by
any such chat.
The Retail Merchants Association
Of Nashville, with very commendabl'
zeal, and the railroads of the State
are the prime movers and promoters O.
the state Fair scheme, and it is fai
CRY from the railroads and the Retail
Merchants Association OF Nashville
10 the agricultural aud live s!ccl
q