Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-01-12
CONTINUE FAIR,
SAY MERCHANTS
RATIO, 9 TO |


That merchants OF the city are
going to come to tho rescue of the
. Cochise county fair appeared certain
yesterday when something like 20
of them were asked to express their
views on the. proposition OF keeping
the fair or emitting the program Tor
this year and allow time to determine
whether fairs would be resumed. OF
the 20 asked for an expression just
two spoke unreservedly in favor OF
not giving a fair, not only this year
but as a general proposition. OF the
other 49, some OF them said they
doubted the arguments that a fair
was Of any value to a merchant and
had bit of skepticisn as to whether
it was of really any Importance to
the city but one of them sounded
what appeared to be the sentiment
of most when he said We've got
to furnish something in the way OF
public entertainment for the people
both OF the city ard outside, and
the fair seems to be about the best
method"
Manager G. B. Virgins, OF the
Douglas drug store at G avenue and
Tenth street, said that ne mad no
hesitation in saying that his company
was for continuing the fair. 1T is
not my intention to claim that the
fair is money maker for us-far
from it, it we measure the immediate
cash return to be had," said Mr.
Virgins. ''It actually costs lis more
than it returns, and still we are
for the fair. Why? Well, because
we believe that it operates to ad-
vantage in advertising the city among
our own people. We hold to the
view that it is not sufficient argu-
ment to say that the fair has not
paid good returns to the business
men in increased trade. Certainly
not We are not giving it with that
expectation. We are giving a fair
to bring to the city our country folk
and make the program q sort OF
public welcome to them when they
get here. 1t they don't spend money
for merchandise on that trip, it
probably will leave them with a
friendly sentiment that will make
them want to return here when they
have the purpose OF huying. Frankly
1 personally would regard it back
ward step to see the fair discon-
tinued."
Jack Scheerer, one OF the pioneers
OF this section, was asked what he
thought about the proposition and
he replied: Lets keep the fair
We can not afford to allow it to be
discontinued. 1t is reported that the
grounds are paid Tor and the build
ings, too, and. yet, ii your paper
stated the facts correctly, there is an
Indebtedness OF only about $500 That
looks to me like it has almost paid
a dividend when all things are con-
Sidered."
Going along the street from house
to house asking the question and
merely putting it, what is your
personal view on whether there ought
to be fair OF ought it to be dis
continued" the replies we're generally,
"I'm for fair" Usually it happened /
that the person answering would say
"It doesn't make me any business,
but I believe we ought to keep it for
the sake of entertaining OUR neigh
bors and our home folks once a
year"
There. were, Of course, those who
were not very enthusiastic but even
they would say Il doubt the value
of it as trade maker but 1 have
given what little could and will
continue to help it it is carried on"
William Klein, manager OF the
Bazaar, says, by all means retain
the fair" Then he talked OF the
business aspect of the fair Fairs
are not given to bring people to the \
city to make purchases from the
stores and it would be unwise to
reach a conclusion on whether we
retain the fair starting from that
angle" said Mr.. Klein. 1--WE offer
the fair as an entertainment feature
and not as trade premium We
want the people to get together and
enjoy themselves for a time. Suppose
it does not bring us the trade It
ought to bring us the friendly inter-
ests Of the people who attend. >As