The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-26
O|GGS REPLIES TO
FAIR OFFICIALS
Declares They Cannot Make
Contract Until Liquor License
Is Secured.

The question OF selling liquor at the
State Fair was closed yesterday wheh
the board notified Isaac Digs that
LIQUOR would be sold. Mr.. Digs on
yesterday addressed the following let
ter to the board. replying to its ult:-
matum.
September IS. 1912.
". Douglas Gordon. Esq. Secretary
Virginia State Fair Association,
incorporated. City:
Dear Sir.-Your letter Of yesterday
in regard to the sale OF liquor at the
state Fair Grounds was laid on my
desk yesterday evening IN my absence.
and l did not receive same until ar
rived 1t my ONCE this morning. al
though l had read the same in the
Newspaper. In answer TO your letter
1 beg to say:
IL am sorry our petitions did not
reach your committee until after IL
had acted. I note what you say with
reference 10 breaktng = contract, and
like yourself. ! think the obligation
OF a contract should be held invioiate'
I beg to remind you that CONTRACT
In not binding unless the party has
right to make It. and L inslst &ua'
the association had no right to make
contract for the sale OF AQuor AT
the Fair Grounds until they had .
license 70 do SO. What will you do
with your contracts II the court should
refuse to grant the license?
2 You may be correct in stating.
that unless liquor is sold by the au-
thorities on the Fair Grounds. that
persons will take bottles there. and
perhaps Others will sneak in liquor
and sell il on the grounds unlawfuIiy
l am ready to concise that this Ii
a grave problem. and one that always
conrronts US In dealing with these
questions. My answer to this is tnat
as long as the Fair Association en-
cages in the buGness Of selling liquor
IL Is responsible for the sale and gives
it its Endorsement How can the au-
thorities Of the fair, with any degree
OF consistency. have man arrested
and punished for drinking liquor. when
il has set IL before him and invites
him to buy and drink 1t?
3. am glad to note that the associa-
ton viii see that the business Is so
conducted - not to offend those who
are opposed to the use of liquors, and
I wish to commend them for this The
objection, however, We have to IT Is
that we are opposed, on principle. TO
| the sale OF liquor on the Fair Grounds
| and wished the directors to decline TO
permit It's sale. in order that We, And
those who think like Us. might indorse
the fair and do whatever IL was In
our power to make II . success.
i hA
the association will be convinced that
! Il 10 the best policy to cut It out en-
tirely.
! g. note that you say the objections
4 raised before the committee kav.
T, been raised. heard and decided by the
court adversely to my contention.
do not know what court has done this:
but VIII state that all OF the cas,s
tina, I cited before the committee were
cases that had been decided by the
court.. and I referred to the case the
; book and the page. where the cases
which were reported could be round
and the courts and the names of the
cAses ~, those instances which were
not repor;e1. I canHo: see. therefore.
how your committee cosid have con
5 GUIDED that the cases Referred t. ~
me have been decided adversely.
5. note that you say your commit
tee acts promptly because ] had gone
int ne newspapers. This is p grave
error. had no Communication what
ever with any newspaper. except one,
! and that was simply 20 send a mes
sage 60 " through . friend ;skins
that they suspend publications on this
question while VIC were dealing with
the committee. I am Informed by one
paper, the Evening Journal, that ineit
publication vas obtained from your
general once. sgs very sorry n,
YOU have fallen into this error. becaus
IN wish TO repeat in this letter what
nave Frequently heretofore stated. tsa'
your committee treated ysy associates
ana myself VITA utmost consideration
an1. 20 far as was concerned, Z should
4 10 likewise.
Al you have given your :etter "a
she press : shall take the liberty Of
ha.aIng . copy of tats TO any paper
witch may ssk for a.
KespeetsuJsy.
ISAAC ufG<sS.