The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-01-12
Drop the Fair.
-lOregnn Ioterl


gon can do is TO drop the 1925 Fair
and tend to business.
Events so far have more than con-
frmed every forecast made by The
Voter as to the i'll effects of attempt
ing to proceed with the untimely ven
ture,
There will be no disgrace attached
either to Oregon or Portland if the
project is dropped now, for the diff
cultieS and general conditions entire
ly justify its abandonment on its
merits. Rather, sensible people
throughout the world, in so far as
they may hear of it, will commend
our state and city for good sense in
knowing enough to turn away from
an undertaking when events have
demonstrated its appropriateness
to business conditions as they pre-
vail here and all through the world
If a business man starts a new ven
ture, and conditions prove especially
unfavorable, his banker does not hes.
itate to advise him to lay the project
aside for a few years and meanwhile
devote his energies to holding his
main business together and building
it up, While an enthusiastic business
man hates to swallow the bitter pill
of advice of this kind, as it is a lot OF
fun to try TO carry on in the face OF
probable disaster, no dishonor at.
taches TO his following such sound
advice. Rather, he is to be compli-
mented and honored for his common
sense, and for not persisting in risks
which the times have made altogeth-
er too hazardous, The proponents of
the fair, likewise, cannot be criticized
if they follow this common sense
plan. They have done their utmost.
They will be condemned only if they
persist in an attempt which condi-
tiOns have doomed.
Supposing the enthusiasts cannot
give up their big idea, what then?
Either the fair must be financed
mainly by private subscription in
Portland in the near future, or the
chance must be taken Of the people
of the state voting the taxes for il at
the November election.
Portland business men and prop
erty owners are in no shape to put
up S5,000,000 or more for any un-
necessary purpose, and while we
have no doubt that millions would be
subscribed by patriotic Portlanders if
ii came to that the hardship on many
would be altogether too heavy. Busi-
ness is on thin ice. Even our most
solid financial institutions are having
to exercise extraordinary care. This
is no time to ask our bankers, manu-
facturers, merchants and the few
property owners who have any
money left to put up millions for any
public subscription.
So far as voting taxes is concerned
any further attempt to vote prop
erty tax is doomed to defeat. The
state is in no mood to accept such an
added burden on top Of the taxes
which already must be faced, espec-
ially as from 20Fc to 400 of taxes
are delinquent in some counties.
To try to vote the fair tax onto gas
oline, when all the money that can
be raised from gasoline is needed for
completion Of our state highway sys-
TEN, is to fly in the face of public
sentiment that is determined that the
road system be completed.
To try to vote an income tax to f.
nance the fair would be equally diff
cult. Income taxes are too heavy
now and the active protest that would
go up against adding to them for an
unnecessary purpose would defeat
the move. We may have to relieve
property of some of the existing tax
burdens, but there is no sound busi-
finance fair
ness excuse for voting it in order to
finance fair.
There are other sources Of taxa
ton, but the same kind Of objection
exists to all Of them-based on the
inopportuneness Of the purpose, to
say nothing of the outrageous princi-
pie of voting taxes on general or
special property.
The verdict would not come till
November, 1922, unless by some un-
expected twist the measures go on
the ballot in May which at this writ
ing seems impossible And in No.
vember, with an adverse verdict, the
fair would have to be abandoned then
or financed by private subscription in
Portland. Why persist in the face Of
such a prospect?
In proportion as the people OF
Portland gradually are learning the
point of view Of the outside state
with reference to the fair, they are
becoming reconciled to the idea that
the project is untimely. Indifference
as to whether it is held is very gen.
eral even with the man on the street.
q was strong for the fair, but |
don't care now" is the comment
heard pretty much everywhere in
Portland. In the face Of this feel
ing Of indifference, the financing OF
the fair or even the voting Of taxes
for II will become increasingly diff
cult.