News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1908-05-06
Letter 10 The People


WnEREAs:-The presence of gamblin
machines, implements and devices opera
ted by falxirs at previous Lamoille Coun
| ty Fairs means financial loss and mora
harm to the boys and men OF the county
and
WHEREAs:-The use of said machines
implements and devices is contrary tC
the Statutes of the State of Vermont (Sec
594S-595l inclusive. 1906 edition. and
| WHEREAs:-It seems reasonable to be-
lieve that any loss incurred in the elmi,
nation of said machines, implements and
devices by the management of the FAN
would be made good by increased patron
age,
| WE, the undersigned, therefore re.
specially petition the Directors of the
Lamoile Valley Fair Company to take
such steps, as in their judgment seem
necessary, to eliminate from future fairs
said gambling machines, implements
and devices.
The above petition is being circulated
| throughout Lamoille County during the
month of May by the various clergymen
of each town.
The matter originated in the Lamoille
Association of Congregational Ministers,
a committee being appointed by that
Association to report on gambling ma
chimes and implements at Lamoille
County Fairs.
This committee feels that it would be
a mistake to limit the initiative in the
matter to any one church denomination.
in presenting the petition to the people.
Further. it is the opinion of the COM
mittee, that signers of the petition should
by no means be limited to those citizens
of Lamoille County, who are members
of churches. This is public affair, a
matter of good citizenship.
The legislators of Vermont have made
the use of gambling machines, imple-
ments and devices illegal by Statute.
(Sections 594S-5951 Vermont Statutes
Edition of 1906.) 1t rests not with any
one class of citizens, but with all good
citizens, from every church, and from
no church at all, to express their peti ion
as to whether they wish the laws of the
State enforced in our County.
This petition is presented in no spirit
unfriendly to the officials of the La
noble Valley Fair Ground Company.
We realize the difficulties under which
they labor. We understand that the
rent secured from the Midway" or
"Fakirs Row - is a large element in the
financial success of the Fair.
Nevertheless we have gone forward
with the petition, believing the officials
OF the Fair Ground Company have failed
to realize the strength of popular senti
ment against the gambling devices, be-
cause no definite opportunity for the |
concerted expression of that sentiment
has been given to the people.
We further believe that the people of .
this county stand ready to show their
of any efforts of the Fair
Ground Officials toward cleaner County |
Fair, by an increase of patronage suf.
ficient to make good any loss involved
in the elimination of the gambling de-
vices. n
1t has not been our aim in presenting
ibis petition, to pose as reformers. We
seek merely to provide the people of La
noille County opportunity to voice their
,wn sentiment in the matter and in so
LONG feel that we have done our part.
We believe that we have acted in this
natter with malice toward none, and
rom an honest desire to serve the
eople. w. r. HAMLIN,
j. X. FULLER,
G. G. ST. CLARE.
Committee for the Lamoille Association c