Reforming State and Agricultural Fairs
By Editor
The Civic Committee, of Boston, Edwin Bumstead, 161 Milk Street, secretary, are endeavoring to inaugurate a reform in State and agricultural fairs. They have asked the various secretaries of State Boards of Agriculture whether the purely agricultural fair or the “wide-open” fair, allowing the sale of intoxicating liquors, games of chance, immoral shows, circuses, etc., is the more profitable; and replies from twenty-three States are almost unanimous in declaring for the purely agricultural fair as the best paying financially, socially, and educationally. California is the only one in the twenty-three which does not favor the strict prohibition of intoxicating liquors. The Golden State is blinded by her wine interest, which is ruining its thousands. We hope the reform may be effective; for generally, as at present conducted, the fairs, State, county, and town, held ostensibly in the interests of agriculture, are positively demoralizing in influence.