Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-11
Persuasive Argument Advanced
at Recent Meeting With
Commissioner
(special Star. Bulletin Correspondence. J

Especial Star. Bulletin CorreSponoence.D
HlLO, Hawaii, Sept. 7.-Hilo is en-
titled to and should have the first
territorial fair, according to the YER
dict of the majority of the 40 business
men of this city who attended a din
ner last Tuesday night at the Seaside
club as guests of Commissioner James
Henderson of Hawaii. The object OF
the dinner was explained by the host
who asked the opinion of those present
on the territorial fair scheme for Hilc
and also their idea on promotion work.
All present voiced their views on the
fair scheme but the promotion end
was somewhat overlooked in the dis
cussion.
The consensus of opinion was that
the appropriation of $4,000 made by the
last legislature should not be allowed
to lapse and that the territorial fair
be held next year in Hilo il the proper
buildings can be erected TO house the
exhibits, and the race track put into
condition. AS a result of the session
Mr.. Henderson will do all in his pow
ed to secure the first territorial fair
for the city of Hilo, when he attends
the first meeting of the fair commits
sioners in the near future, he said.
The only apparent drawbacks of
Hilo as a territorial fair center, as
outlined by those at the meeting, was
the fact that there may be difficulty
in raising the $4,000 or more dollars
needed to put the grounds in shape
and erect new buildings and the fact
that hotel accommodations at present
were limited and would not be suf-
ficient to cope with the great crowds
that would be present during the
event. ..~
Some of the businessmen were Of
the opinion that the continuance of
county fairs and the dropping of the
territorial fair idea would be the best
plan, but George A. Cool was the only
man who fostered this view at the
meeting He pointed out that poor
people could attend county fair, but
if a territorial fair was held on an
other island it would be impossible for
them TO be present. Mr.. Cool suggest
ed a county fair for the Fourth of
July with horse racing. The latter
idea was backed UP by c. E. Wright,
who declared the track could be put
into condition with little attention. E.
II. Moses also favored Mr. Cool's sug-
festion. DR.. H. B. Elliot opposed the
territorial fair idea on the ground that
there was no place in Hilo to hold it,
and he was followed by r. w. Filler,
who thought that Honolulu was the
logical place for the big fair.
Judge Glenn Quinn opposed their
views saying that it would be better
to spend the money in Hilo, and he
felt certain the hotels and boarding
houses could accommodate the
crowds which would attend a terri
torial fair.
David McH. Forbes advised Commits
sioner Henderson to tell the fair COM
missioners that Hilo could accommo-
date the crowds, make a success Of
the exhibition and that in conclusion
Hilo wanted the fair next year.
James w. Russell reminded the
gathering that great many OrientaIs
would make up the crowds of visitors
and they would have ample means for
securing accommodations.
Judge Delbert E. Metzger favored
the territorial fair idea, declaring that
as Hilo made a success of the county
fair, there was no reason why the big
ger fair would not be as great a sue
cess here.
J. w. Russell rose again to suggest
that if the territorial fair were held
in Hilo once every four years and on
the other islands during the interven-
ing years there would be much trouble.
He favored Fair Week for Hilo