FUTURE FAIRS
(From The Stroller’s Weekly)
The success of the late South
eastern Alaska Fair, taken in con
i ection with the success of its three
predecessors, was such as to firmly
establish the annual fair as an event
during all future years. The public
looks forward to them and they are
given unstinted patronage.
But there is apparently a grow
ing tendency to make of these an
nual events carnivals instead of fairs
a: (1 the Fair Association must guard
against this tendency if future fairs
are to be successful. In the event
plans now on foot materialize by
the time for holding the next annual
fair, it is hoped the “fair” depart
ment will be separated from the
“carnival” department and that the
former will be free from the intru
sion of canvassers ai d solicitors for
the sale of raffle tickets. Then
those who desire to go down the
“Trail'’, “Pike”, “White Way” or by
whatever name the ballyhoo depart
ment is designated, can do so and
be canvassed and solicited to their
hearts’ content while other who de
sire to view the exhibits can do so
without being buttonholed and oth
erwise bored by overzealous raffle
ticket sellers. While it is perfectly
proper for the latter to operate,
there should be some way for those
who do not care to be constantly
canvassed by them to escape them,
some harbor in the fair building in
which they would be immune.
Another thing: The annual fairs
have become the crowning events of
the year to the Indians, who turn
out en masse, spend their money
freely and assist in every way to
make the fairs successful in a fi
nancial way. The Indians invariably
have money in the fall about fair
time and they spend it unstintedly.
But the question naturally arises:
Does it pay in the long run to com
mercialize selt-respect oy the whites
putting' themselves on a social
equality with an inferior people for
gain? Social equality at public
functions will eventually lead to
social equality in the homes, a con
dition it is not believed would re
dound to the benefit of either the
whites or Indians.
To obviate the necessity of so
much race intermingling, it has been
suggested that five days be devoted
to future fairs and that three of the
days be designated as “white” and
two as “Indian.” Also white and
Indian exhibits should not be
brought into competition as a mat
ter of fairness, especially to the In
dians. Indian exhibits, from totem
poles to babies, should be judged
separately.
By having separate days for
whites and Indians, the attendance
of the former would be materially
increased and it is not believed the
attendance of the latter would be
lessened. It is a fact that many
white did not visit the late fair
even once and many who visited it
once did not go a second time for
the reason that, as they candidly ad
mitted, “There was too much In
dian.”
Experience is a valuable teacher
and the incorporators of the South
eastern Alaska Fair Association are
apt pupils in the school of experi
ence and are only anxious to benefit
by what they are learning’, to the
end that each fair may be ahead of
its predecessor.
This is not a criticism of the fair
management. The late fair was an
unqualified success, but future fairs
must be better, and they will be if
experience goes for anything.
Editor White is right. The con
duct of the fair has degenerated. It
was initiated with distinction and
distinctions. In the auditorium at
the first fairs there was a section
fenced off from the common herd
wherein seats were reserved for the
federal officials and such of the bet •
ter element as were rot offensive to
them. At this year’s fair intensely
cultured and refined people like Mr.
White were crowded away from the
seats by the rabble unless they were
early on the ground to make pre
emptions. If the better element
were fortunate enough to obtain a
resting place, it was rather certain
to be in the close vicinity of un
couth muckers, Scandinavians or In
dians. The fair committee should
zealously endeavor to elevate the so
cial status of the fair’s attendance.
Let it not permanently degenerate
from the social function it should be
to the free-for-all gathering that it
unfortunately is. The rabble should
be plainly given to understand that
it is not wai ted in and about the
fair. Their presence and their money
should not be spurned. When it is
the refined people will have the in
centive to extend to the fair the
lavish patronage they so ardently
desire to give it. Let the Indians,
Japs, Filipinos, Kanakas, wops, ne
groes ard that kind of trash go off
and have a fair of their own and
thereby avoid driving away refined
and liberal patrons.
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