The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-26
Senator Edmondson Does Not
Believe State Fair Should Be
Boycotted
But He Deeply
Regrets License
In Open Letter Points Out That
Citizens of State Are About
Two and Half to One For
Prohibition

Echoes Of the widespread opposition
continue to be heard throughout the
State. and since the granting Ut q
liquor license to the directors of the
association 1t has become increasingly
evident hat many more protests will
be heard before the fair opens
1t will be remembered that last year
a very marked decrease In attendance
AT the fair, SO large, In fact. as to cause
the first losses by the directors since
the fair began, was attributed directly
to the fact that so many people were
opposed TO the sale OF liquor at the
grounds and were Disguised by the OBJ
stinacy Of the directors in persisting
in it's sale, and that so many bodies
went on record as opposing this prac-
tice.
Since the recent licensing OF the fair
saloon a number of new protests have
teen made. and Senator H. E. Ed
mondson. a widelyknown and respect
I'd politician of the State, has address
ed the following open letter to tho
president Of the fair association.
1t will be remembered that Senator
Edmondsop stood for the cnabhnE
act in the last legislature and is In =
good position to know the sentiment OF
the people OF Virginia. He states in
his letter that the election in Septem-
Der will probably be carried by the
drys by a majority OF two and half
TO one.
The letter follows:
Houston, Halifax CO.. Va,
July Is. 1914.
Hon. Henry Fairfax.
President Virginia Agricultural So
ciety. Aldie, Va.
''Sir.---Noting in the papers that
Jne, Tafr association mas again Appffed
FOR license 10 dispense intoxicating IL
auors on the fair grounds the coming
fall, and noting also further IN the
daily papers that various bodies OF
church people throughout the state
have recommended that the people
boycott the fair, I write to make
few suggestions and observations on
the matter.
sincerely Regrets License.
The Religious Herald. the organ
OF perhaps the strongest church. rlu-
mericaily, in Virginia, has made the
suggestion that although the fair as
sociation or society have secured IL
cense to sell strong drink during the
coming fair week, that the same
should be waived.
This, it seems TO me, Is reasonable
and proper. do not think our peo-
pie ought to boycott the State fair,
and at the same time. ! sincerely re-
gret that the license to dispense In
;ox.catir,-~ LIQUORS was granted the fAtY
association.
ST have been 81 member OF the legis-
.afure of Virginia for about twelve
wears past. four years in the house
If delegates, and the last eight years
Il member OF the State senate; ana
together the two bodies number at
the present time lao members, ~
Of whom are wet. or local optiontsts,
as believe they now call themselves.
and 100 who are dry. or who favor
Statewide prohibition. 1t looks to me
that any man with his eyes and his
ears open is obliged TO see that the
trend of sentiment in this state to-
wards Statewide prohibition Is about
two and a half to one, or the same
proportion as the members OF tho
general assembly Of Virginia; and !
believe that on the 22d day OF Sep
te,grber the people will register vote
favoriue Statewide prohibition in that
proportion If not greater.
overvhe inning Sentiment.
I'm view of the overwhelming SEN
timent in the state of Virginia against
tho IegAiiged sale OF Intoxicating
LIQUORS. II does seem to me that the
Fair association could very well at
ford to waive the license which has
been granted. and respect the senti-
rlent OF the people of Virginia both
this year and next, and cut out the
sale of whiskey on the fair grounds
entirely. As before stated. do not
think the church people ought to
hovcett an institution like the State
fair where the people all over ths
State can meet once year during tho
harvest moon and enjoy themselves:
and do not think that the state Fair
association ought TO insist on using q
privilege that is so manifestly distaste-
full to the large majority OF our people
by selling strong drink during fair
week.
Respectfully
III. A. EDMONpSON.
"P S-This Is an open letter and
am sending it to the two morning
daiiies in Richmond.
- n