Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-01
WILL NOT CENsuRE FAIR
Des Moines Laymen's Civic Union OBJ
jeets to Methods Of John 3. Ham
mountaineering Shows Bring Out
Lively Discussion.

Des Moines. Sept. 1.-The Laymen's
Civic Union refused to condemn the
state fair, city and county officials Sat
urday afternoon for permitting an al
legged oriental dance show to be oper-
ated on the midway of the exposition
last week
John B. Hammond. who tried to have
the show closed, offered a resolution
that the state fair board allowed gross
immortality to be exhibited al the fair
and that police forces of the fair as-
ISOLATION, city of Des Moines and the
state officials prevented court investi-
cation Of the nature Of the dance.
Hammond, before presenting the res
olution, rected the many difficulties he
encountered in trying to interest proper
officials in barring the oriental dance
from the midway. He recounted his
many failures, telling the treatment he
was given by each official he visited.
After offering the resolution he urged
that the union pass it. If it did not.
he declared. he would go beyond the
bounds Of the city and would lay bare
before the entire state the existing con.
ditions of immortality.
I'll go before every church council
in Iowa and tell them the conditions a,
their state fair" ne said. The whole
city of Des Moines may stand for such
debaucherv and l may be unable to get
into the courts, but no one can keep my
mouth shut. I'll let all the state know
of the rottenness that exists"
After first hearing of the immoral
sideshoW and going to see it I went to
Mr.. Wentworth. the head of the police
on the fair grounds and told him that
the show ought to be closed" Hammond
said in introducing his resolution. He
eplied that at the time he was busy
with an assault and battery case.
then asked him whether he did not
consider immortality existing on the
grounds of more Importance than an
assault and battery case. If women
We're running around the grounds stark
naked he answered. I wouldn't con-
slider it as important as an assault and
battery case
Next l went TO Jenney. He said tina:
the show was out of the city's jurisdic
ton He told me I might go back and
file charges in police court. I went back
there and Geneva, the clerk. and Judge
justices Of the peace, Frfsk on the east
side and Hitz on the west side. f1iiz
.".gglecl and twisted around for fifteen
minutes, saying all the time. I don't
know what can do. I don't know what
I can DO Frisk said practically the
same thing. I went to see George Will
son. assistant county attorney. He
asked for my evidence. / finally had to
Oh CHI
closed"
w. =. Pilkington arose after the dis
cussion Of the resolution and moved
that 1t be referred to the joint confer
ence of the laymen's union and the in
terchurch council.
IL didn't like the way Hammond
threatened US when he presented his
resolution Pilkington said. He said
that II we didn't take some action he'd
go out over the state. He can't get
US to do anything by threatening.
neither can be drive us. I move the
resolution be laid on the table until
the joint conference"
A. U. Coates and others objected to
this. but after time the motion was
seconded. Then Hammond offered a
resolution. condeming the state fair
board for allowing the show on the
grounds. Tie members cs the union
present were about equally divided on
this resolution. Hammond finally con-
scented to withdraw the resolution
wnen it was seen that !. p-cha bly,
would not be passed.
In the general discussion OF condi-
tons OF morality II Des Moines manv
charges were made by speakers. Ham
mond declared that he believed there
was some understanding between the
fair officials and other officials and
those running the show. The latter
knew they would not be molested.
Hammond said.
Many times doctors bills have been
saved hv having = hnffle of Chamber