Evening star., 1923-05-11
Defends Carnivals
Reader Calls Them Clean, Legiti'
mate Amusement.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In a signed article in Mondays edi-
tion of The Star reader. Mr.. r. G..
Frey. suggests that the District Com
missioners prohibit carnivals from ex-
hibiting In Washington. claiming
patrons do not get their moneys
worth visiting the numerous shows
carried by such organizations: also
that games are operated which mulct
people Of their money.
That this form of entertainment
Is popular with the masses was evil
dent by the throngs that visited 18th
and II streets northeast the last
month. There is no other form Of
amusement that can take the carni-
eral. AS for not getting his moneys
worth. the fact IL that a man can
take his whole family to these ex-
htbitions and be highly entertained
without the expenditure of cent
He can be entertained with free band
concerts, free acts and the glamour
of the many attractions offered.
Engage a Censor.
1t may be Illuminating to Mr.. Frey
and others who dertde this form Of
entertainment to know that carnivals.
circuses and other such outdoor
amusement enterprises have this year
organized an association with high
censor commissioner at its head, SIM
liar to Will Hays In the movie In
dustry and Judge Iandls in base ball.
well known Chicago attorney
Thomas Johnson. being selected by
the showmen.
All the large carnivals and circuses
are members Of this association. 1t
Is their policy to offer nothing but
absolutely clean entertainment In
their various shows. devoid of even a
tinge Of vulgarity. All concessi"ns
must measure up to a high standard
of censorship. which means that the
day of the fiy-by-night, unscrupulous
manager of a questionable so-called
carnival Is a thing of the past.
Millions Inveated.
Millions of dollars are invested In
TINS form of amusement In the United
States Last month show visited
this city that requires thirty-five dou-
ble-length railroad cars (sixty feeD
to transport This show started with
two cars nine years ago "Cleanness"
has been the slogan of the manage
ment. and the mighty growth of his
company must prove that the people
want this form of outdoor amusemen t
Mr.. Frey in his article says he
hopes the Merchants and Manufac-
turers Association. chamber Of Com
merce. Board OF Trade and other civic
bodies VIII join In protesting against
further granting of licenses to carni-
walls. It's my opinion that the mer-
chants Will hardly See their way clear
to do so. On business errand to
the carnival which held forth at 18th
and III streets northeast last month /
noticed Il large truck from Center
market unloading large quantities Of
meats, groceries. etc. at the commits
sary of the show.
The manager Informed me that
large orders We're placed every day
To feed the members of his company.
He ais" explained that the personnel
of his show comprised approximately
400 people.
Wants More Cnrnivnls.
These people all seemed we'll dress
ed. and IL Is quite evident that they
must leave cnnsiderabl money with
our merchants when on a shopping
tour.
BY all means let us have the good.
clean carnival. A large part of our
population want IL. and find relax
alton and good healthy amusement
In Il visit to their exhibits And
under the 1923 Association OF Outdoor
Showmen their shows are to be of
higher caliber than formerly, and
as clean as the proverbIal hounds
tooth. ALBERT NJ HAYES.