The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-09
PEOPLES FORUM
The State Falr-Anothcr Viewpoint.
To the Directors Of the Virginia State Fair A.

TO the Directors Of the Virginia State Fair As
"Gentiemen,-we, the undersigned, hereby
earnestly petition the directors Of the Virginia
State Fair association to discontinue the sale
OK into intoxiea ant liquor at the state fair ground
dren and friends, and to Join with other citi-
zens in, making the fair a great success. But
our conscientious convictions will not permit us
to participate in the fair. or to work to advance
the interests. 80 long as the authorities sell In
toxicating liquor on the grounds and thus make
the said sale one of the features OF the fair.
we are aware that the directors Of the fair
do not share our convictions on this subteet, but
may we not hope that the board Of directors
will carefully consider this question, once more.
and decide to abolish the liquor selling, because
there are so many persons WHOSE convictions viii
prevent them from attending the fair II intox-
icants are sold there. VIII not the directors re-
spect tn convictions of these persons and take
give to the fair their hearty support?
(signed) .................
The above is proposed as a form of petition
to be signed by those who agree with the senti-
ments therein expressed, and to be sent to the
board Of directors Of the State FAIR associaton.
Petition of various forms have been sent the
officials at different times. and the requests OF
the petitioners have been denied Resolution
have been adopted, pledging those voting Tor
the same not to attend the fair. and articles
have been written condemning the directors IN
strong language. So far, these resolutions ana
articles have made no change in the decision or
the directors to obtain a license and to sell IL
quor on the grounds. 49,
But have the directors given due considera-
ton to the fact that many conscientious people
are deprived of the pleasure of attendance upon
the fair, and are of necessity. although with re-
luctance. compelled to condemn this action or
the directors? Ought not the directors to re-
spect the conscientious convictions of these peo-
pie? Even though it could be demonstrated
that the receipts from the sale of intoxicants
are larger than the receipts from the attend
ance of these people would be, ought the board
to settle the question on the money basis aloneF
Has the board fully realized that the purchase
of the liquor license. and the maintenance or
bar-rooms operates at once to debar thousands
of people flom participating in the social pleas
ures connected with the fair?
If the form of petition printed above should
be signed by many persons and sent in to the
directors they would be called upon. to pass upon
a new question: Not whether they will abolish IL
quor, because of a possible decline in revenue,
hut whether they will do so because they do
not want to deprive conscientious persons OF
the pleasure derived from a visit to the fair.
If they will respond favorably TO the above
petition, 1t will be a most gratifying evidence
of their breadth of view. and of their great
desire to develop a fair which will be the pride
JAMES CANNON.