The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-05
Men Responsible for
Selling Liquor at Fair
waynesville. n. C.. October 3, 1912.

N. -, OCTOBER
Editor The virginian:
| Sir.--I have read with much interest the vari-
Gus letters from individuals. and the reports Of
| the appeals and protests made to the board of
directors OF the Virginia state Fair association
concerning the sale of intoxicants at the fair
grounds. and while have advocated the action
which has been taken. and sympat hized with the
appeals and the protests. have not been at all
surprised at the answer made by The executive
committee OF the Fair association either to
Its matter or spirit Some years ago, the
representative of the temperance people of Vir-
gfnia, and as citizen and PARENT, / went
to the State fair grounds in company with some
other ministers, resident pastors in the city Of
Richmond, ana after a-reFy-eaEefal- iRpestisa-
ton Of conditions, | protested in person to the
president OF the Fair association and to the off,
GERS OF Henrico county. against the gambling,
vile shows and liquor selling. But little atten-
ton was given to the protest. and the effort
made to destroy the effect Of the protest by de-
scribing it as an attempt to injure the political
aspirations of Mr. Stuart. After Mr. Stuart re-
signed and Mr.. Fairfax was elected. made the
same protest, but 1t was unavalng.
The Baptist General Association OF Virginia
and the Virginia Annual Conference, represent
ing the two largest relieous bodies in the State.
at their annual meetings In November, 1911,
passed strong resolutions, appealing to the direc-
tors OF the State fair to prohibit the sale Of
intoxicants in the future the fair grounds.
These appeals were published in full in the daily
press. nearly year ago, long before any con.
tracts had been made by the Fair association.
II is evident that the protests made by the
ministers and layinen of Richmond would not
have produced any different results had they
been made at an earlier date for the appeals of
the two great religious bodies mentioned above
have been utterly ignored. Tho element of the
date of the protest is comparatively unlmpor-
tant. The reply of the executive committee shows
that the men who in charge Of the State
Fair association do not consider liquor selling
or liquor drinking to be Objectionable. The fact
that the Fair association will obtain license and
will sell ths liquor itself puts every member OF
the board of directors of the Fair association
in the category of liquor sellers, and that not
withstandng the fact that number of them
are members OF churches, which bitterly oppose
the traffic. The executive committee actually at
tempts an argument to prove that the sale of
liquor at the fair grounds is beneficial, and that
1t Ia "far better than to prohibit II altogether"
1t IL not at all likely that either written or oral
protest will have any effect upon the persons
who prepared and voted FOR the reply, which Is
signed by "W Douglas Gordon, Secretary"
The question for temperance people to settle IL
a very simple Liquor Is sold at the fair
for one of two reasons. for both reasons.
First it has been claimed that the fair is not
run for the purpose of making money. but that
the revenue arising from the vile shows, the
gambling and the sale Of liquor, Is used to ena-
bile the fair management to make creditabie.
attractive fair. If that argument be accepted by
Inc temperance people then they confronted
with the simple question, as TO whether they will
20 to fair which depends upon the revenue
obtained from such sources for It's attractiveness
Are they willing to secure their pleasure by
the damna alton Of the liquor sellers, liquor drink
ers wretched show people, and covetous gam
bers. from whom the fair authorities secure their
revenue? The writer faced this question square,
ly several years ago. and decided that lie and his
household could not in. good conscience parti-t
cipate In enjoymeDts obtained at such price,
in print but to the president OF the Fair assoc
citation and the county officials, ne has not been
to the fair grounds since that time and while j
not attempting to sit In Judgment upon his