The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-02
THE SUNDAY LIQUOR LAW ~

log fairly about any person With whom they
may differ in any way. They make unfair
statements on the principle that it may
reach the ears Of persons knowing nothing
Of the matter, and thus prejudice them
against a just view of the matter thus
stated. They 20 through the world attack
ing whatever their captions temperamenss
may take exceptions to, with the hope that
By a constant hiugng Of the mud Of
calumny some may possibly stick to the
object. Of such character 10 "Templar,"
the scribbIer for the Union, and of equal
truth and dignity are hi, attacks on the
Mayor Of this city. We do not desire TO
take up the entire sqaib Of "Templar,' and
engage in the superAuous work of answer.
| ing it, as it bears its refutation on its face.
We will only trouble ourselves with that
,or,ion of his nonsense which might affect
the Understandings OF those who are no
more conversant with the topic whereof
Templar speaks, than be seems to be him
self.
The first paragraph wherein he prevsri'
Gates, or 10 put it more strongly, hss, either
through ignorance or malice, ingsniously
enough to demand an exposure, is the fol
lowing;
Alta recent meeting Of the City Council
the Mayor distinctly stated that he believed
the ordinance prohibiting the sale OF liquor
on Sunday could be enforced, and that he
intended to assume the responsibility OF en-
forcing it. 1t is evident from these words
that il he has experienced change OF
heart il mus. have been since that evening
October 9TH. | believe. If he has not
lexperienced change Of heart, why does he
not carry out his good intentions
Mayor Buford did, on DC, 9TH, or therea
bouts, saw this in substance to the City
Courcil, aud the same evening, Immediately
after these strong asseveratIons, the City
Council then and there did repeal all OF
Sec. &, division lst, Of the ordinance, con
=, rerninq Offences in the nature Of mtsde
= msanors, of which the following is yer
batin copy
:. {. If aay person or persons shall, IN
Ihis city, play at billiards, ten pins, or
20 .ny other game OF chance or amusemtn'
e' n AZ any game Of chance in any highway
horoughfare, or other public place with
his clty: or shall on that day sell OF one
40 ,,u any merchandlze; or shall keep ope
his or her store, shop, or other place OF bt
illness, after the hour Of niue o'clock IN IN
ol | forenoon Of said day or shall At any Tin
A | during said day, CT or during the nigh'
SAID day. keep open any tipping mouse
,hsil open snv bar or place where termehte
r. distilled liquors or wines, beer, or oth'
I'm intoxicating drinks are or may be kept;
III Nall ssl or give away on that dsv or nigh
r;,bin the limits Of this city, any termen'e
p distilled lquor. vine, beer, or other
,oxicsting driaks; or shall on that day
al. ni,h,. within this city, open any gsmif
-, hon.e. or set Up auy gaming table, or gan
Ing device a. which games OF chance mi
~ 10 pIsvcd: Re, she. or they, so otendln
" hall be deemed and held guilty OF IN
ht' iemeAnor, and shall, on convichon' pay
TIC Inc Of no; less Than ten dollars, nor mo
job han one hundred dollars for each and eve
io1s ,uch offence.
Now. Gsis well known by every one &C
.,,b versnu; with The history OF the matt
.sa Ys7or Bgtor1 revoked the licenses
ye,.r, Wagner and Huber, beforh the
,eAI Of this section, and it IS moreover t'
'gis rs TEN plar" speciously asserts, that Il
lScs we're revoked under The ID section OF :
s.|b -5ipy ordinance regulating the sale
ooR .riritu0us hvuors But the express o.
20 ,apce yslatiuy to the sole u liqnors
H. Sunday, and prescribing the penalty
49, oeen repealed, so tina, there ia now no
alton of a Sunday law, as there 10
Sunday law to violate. The repeal OF
SUNDAY law WAS in no respect al action
=. which the Mayor is responsible. 10 tac'
" had no power to stay the action OF
Council in the matter. That the ma
serr may be fully understood, and Mayor
have tord's official consistency thoroughly VI
, be Gated, we will copy tina, portion OF sec
sd Sd, prescribing the powers of the Mayo
lioin tho matter:
come "Any license 80 granted NAV be revo
ton. upon written notice by the Mayor, whent
pder it shall appear to his satisfaction that
nartv 40 licensed shall have violated
Iiday p.,y .ioo NJ anw ordinance relatipg to So
aous liquors or any condition OF the D
| ,toresdid.'
oe'" Now, the section prohibiting
70 " sale OF spirituous liquors has been
Lux pesled, and the legal condition Of the lie
~ sellers bond whereby he obIigstes bin
VI, not to sell liquor on Sunday, io omitted
"a the bond of every liquor seller who hold
O"''' city license. Thus we see WHY Mayor
ford does not enforce tho Sunday las
NV" There is no Sunday law to enforce. il
}" uull wiped off the municipal statute DO
u u Another passage of "Templar's' sccre
w.. # suterfuges is the following:
Iame Good citizens have witnessed the Pc
men entering saloons on Sunday and dl
ing in them, but these officers, the 81
supporters Of the law, have never compls
of the otfenses to which they must have
eve witnesses, and when asked the rec
.a.a ,hey reply that they have no instruction
10 So"
Either "Templsr" is lying, meekiy
,rt o mildly telling downright falsehoods, or
7eigh' policemen. whom the good people" (ar'
, fort, taking their Sunday morning cocktails
even presume) have seen drinking in saloons
me" lereict in their prescribed duty. Esct
killed ayarv Dnl;camsn a, thew all can testify