Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-07-21
HOW TO RID UNDESIRABLE
DANCES

DANCES
Two weeks ago there appeared
little article in the Opinions of
Others" column in which the corre-
spondent wrote in part as follows:
"In last weeks issue of the
American there was an invitation
to barn dance to be held in the
vicinity of Askov. We believe the
editor of the American would do
us all, and especially the later
generations. great favor to send
out the paper with an empty sheet
instead of that kind of notices."
Inasmuch as the American has
not expressed any editorial opinion
favorable to barn dances we did not
make any comment on the above at
the time, but now that there is an
other expression in the Opinions of
Others" column this week from an
other party it is perhaps best that
we make our stand clear, otherwise
it might turn out like snow ball
running down hill and growing by
leaps and bounds.
AS we understand the two men who
have written, they are opposed to pub
lie barn dances and there are many
reasons for people to be of that
opinion. What caused the first article
to be written was a barn dance in the
Askov community. The man conduct
ing it had a display ad in the Amer
lean announcing the dance for which
he paid regular advertising rates,
just like he would pay the storekeeper
for floor wax, "hot dogs, biscuits,
or anything else that he might need
for that night, the musician for mu-
sic, and anybody else that rendered
services. The same week that he had
his paid display ad in the American
the editor had a talk with the man
and found out just how far he had
gotten with the clearing of his big
farm in the years that he has been
in this community. Whenever we can
write little article cheering or lift
ing a man who is working hard and
trying to get ahead, and we have the
facts, we like to do it. 1t was done
in this case and at the same time was
casually mentioned in said local news
item that he was conducting a public
barn dance. We were not urging any,
gave the date and place. No opinion
was expressed as to whether it was
good or bad. He had his display ad
asking people to come. If he could
not have advertised in a newspaper
he could go to any United States post
office and purchase postal cards, have
printed on same an invitation to at
tend the dance or write it on same
in case no printer would do the print
ing, and send his cards via U. S. mail
to whomsoever he desired.
Whether it is the display ad that
is criticized or the news item we do
not know, but it seems that it matters
little. AS long as a man who is to
conduct a barn dance or any other
dance for that matter, has been is
sued a permit for same it is most
likely that he will conduct the dance
whether or not he can advertise in
a newspaper. There is the telephone,
hand painted placards, mouth to
mouth messages, postal cards as
above mentioned, and various other
means of making it known. The
newspaper however is likely the most
convenient and least expensive of the
various methods.
If it is desired to prohibit or do
away with public barn dances the
thing to do is TO get at the root of it
and don't blame a newspaper just be-
cause it is advertised there after the
permit has been granted. 1t is per-
fectly all right that it is discussed
in the columns Of the newspapers to
arouse public sentiment against any,
thing that is not desirable but the
law of this state Is such that any indi-
vidual or organization that wish to
conduct a public dance must first get
a permit. Talk to the officials who
issue the permits. If public senti-
ment is strsng enough against the
public dance and the officials issuing
the permits can see that it is for the
benefit of the community not to issue
such permits then there will be action
that counts.
We do not want to be misunderstood
in making this statement, but likely
there are many pavilion dances that
are just as shady and saturated with
booze as the barn dances. This state
ment is not made In defense of the
public barn dance. for any dances that
are bad are not excused and should
not be tolerated because there are
other bad ones.