The Saloon at the State Fair: A Temperance Warning from Yakima

The state fair commission is doing much to make a good fair, but they have, in our opinion, made one grave error. They have advertised to sell saloon privileges to the highest bidder. The fair is and should be an educational institution, but all education furnished to its patrons should be of a beneficial order. A saloon on the fair grounds will help many a young man on the downward road, and thus make the attendance of the state fair an injury to him instead of a benefit. And who can say where this evil influence will stop? It has been practically demonstrated by state fair associations in the east that when the saloon is abolished from the grounds there is a favorable gain financially to the association. In fact, the Minnesota state fair was doing business at a loss as long as saloons, gambling dens and other immoral institutions were allowed upon the grounds, but since those evils were abolished there has been a profit from the fact that the gate receipts have increased, as well as the number of exhibits. It will be a curse upon the state of Washington if there is a saloon upon its fair grounds next September. Let the people rise up and with one mighty blow blot out the curse from all future fairs.