South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-09-16
FAIR BRINGS PROOF THAT RACE
BETTING AND BARS ARE NOT
ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS.


men. 1t was conceded a week ago
that only bad weather could inter
vene 10 spoil successful interstate
fair this week. The weather has been
very respectable about it, az least, so
far as concerns the elimination Of
showers. and the fair TO date has been
d success beyond expectations.
South Bend-and Mishawaka. -
have won in this great undertaking.
1t shows what can be done if men
OF the right spirit take hold. Two
great enterprises have been launched
here this year. The fair and the
country club; the latter. Of course,
OF less general public interest than
the former. since the benefits to be
derived will be more limited to the
few who can afford that sort of
thing, while with respect TO the fair.
most anyone can afford the price Of
admission and the returns in inspira-
ton and knowledge will be many
times better worth it. The fair is a
popular affair. The populace will be
for it, now that its possibilities have
been once demonstrated, and its fu-
ture is secure.
And the fair is being kept clean.
We realize that with a great many
this is a fault rather than a virtue.
and perhaps Mayor Keller has never
been more persistently damned than
by certain of the more sporty ele-
ment since the fair began. The clam
or among these has been for open
race track gambling and for bar on
the grounds. and just as though ,he
undertaking had been a failure with
out these things. we hear it from one
quarter, and then another, that with
gambling and a bar the fair would
have accomplished wonders.
What the fair has really proven is
that such things can be conducted
without licensed hellishness. South
Bend in advertising the fair made its
appeal 10 the sane people of the sur
rounding country. and that the city
is not overrun with all the gamblers,
crooks. buns and thugs from Chi
cago Toledo and other crime centers,
here TO reap a harvest from the un-
tutored people of this community is
To the city's everlasting credit The
women at the fair, and the children
are safe at least to a degree. from the
foul breaths and obscenity of bar
fys. and their pocket-books and
freedom from fresh insult are also
reasonably safe. The fair that en-
courages. or tolerates, that sort of
thing. the bane of decent people. is
of questionable value at its best, and
we are gl1d IL learn that there is so
little friction between the fair man
agement and the city administration
with regard 10 the rules and regula
tons that are being enforced.
We will ccncede the truth Of the
assertion that there is a certain
amount of race betting going on
and we don't care if there is. We
have never had any particular obiec-
ton TO a man resorting TO some dark
room and there making an ass Of
himself along with others of his Xix
ing. IL he wishes 10 insist upon it, We
do object TO his founting a book I'm
the face of every unsophisticated
country lad that comes 10 town. Or
even of the young smart-alecks here
in the city. who may think they would
like 20 be sporty and don't know
how. Pleaders for this privilege
need not come to us. begging criu-
cism of Mayo. Keller for clamping
the lid" on such operations. Being
democrats, I'm the main, let them go
to Gov Ralston. democratic governor
and ind out whether. even if the
mayer were TO lift the lid" the pre-
cedent established at Mineral Springs
would be reversed. The difference
between the race track i'm South
Bend and the one at Mineral SPRINGS
is that the south Bend track was
built for racing. and the one at Min
eral SPRINGS as an excuse for main
tanning a gambling hell. The track
at south Bend viii be a success while
the one at Mineral Springs is doomed
TO everlasting failure unless il changes
its purpose.
Times change. They have changed
with respect 10 race betting the same
as regards other things. The times
follow changes Of public sentiment
and pubic sentiment would or al
least should. boycott the fair al
Springbrook were the bars thrown
down 10 the old-time revelries. This
idea that YOU can't have goo
time unless your hide is stuffed with
booze OF enjoy "a race unless a lot al
beer-soaked bookies are on your heels
seeking 10 wheedle YOU out OF your
money. belongs to the stupefed PEI
verts OF a gloomy and disappoariug
past oh. yes. Kalamazoo. cited as
an example. used 20 permit main
tenance OF bar al it's race track
and during its fairs for which q
whole $1,000 was collected-for bal
two weeks-only. perhaps YOU may
have noticed that this didn't happen