The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-08-15
That Sunday Observance.

In the last issue OF the NEws.HERALD
a short article appeared in reference to
the Owen law, or rather to the present
effects Of that law on Sunday traffic in
other places. AS was said in last weeks
issue the Owen law is being brought into
special prominence in other places at
the present time, and on account of this
agitation things that have been tolerated
for years are being criticised and some
Of them severely condemned. We IRE
fully persuaded that the current Of pub.
lie sentiment is in the main in the
right direction. We are also persuaded
that Hillsboro will be found marching
in the right direction and keeping step
with the advance column. It was be.
cause Of this belief that we ventured to
point out some things that had crept IN
upon us, 90 to speak. And those things
were not Of an elevating nature. Now
letthscaass Of our dsnouncins the courts
held On Sunday be undsrstood. It will
be remsmbered that We reported the
trial Of Thos. Meyers and Andrew Morris
a. taking place on Sunday, July 2lst
The parties were arrested on Sunday
and had their trial . very short time
afterwards. Wequestioned Police Justice
Maddox In reference to the matter, and
we claimed it was without authority by
statute that court was being held on
Sunday. The Squire could only cite
precedent, as Mayor Dawson does in
the Hillsboro Gazette. Now the object
in the article Of last weeks issue was
simply the cure of evils that exist only
through precendent or custom, and
which evils were condemned by statute,
If not in the letter certainly in the spirit.
The custom Of holding criminal court on
Sunday where the roughs Of the town
may gather and hear sentences pro.
nounced on criminals who were either
drunk or disturbing the peace on Satur.
day or Sunday morning is altogether
uncalled for, nor can it be justified on
any humanitarian or sickly sentimen-
tality for the feather-bed comfort of the
criminal. If criminal is arrested late
on Saturday evening or early on Sunday
morning let him rest in the lookup
until Monday. 1t is quite probable
that the beds in the corporation cages
are as clean and comfortable as are the
beds of many who occupy them enjoy
elsewhere. But Sunday courts are not
the only thing that need attention.
We spoke of saloon doors being open
and presumed the officials knew it..
Mayor Dawson is very severe in his in
terview with the Gazette and terms this
a bare.faced lie. Now we say again that
men do pass in and out OF some of the
buildings where saloons are kept on
Sunday, and we kno,D it. And Mayor
Dawson certainly knOws and kneW at the
time OF the interview with the Gazette
that a case was pending before him
wherein saloonists are charged with not
only having open doors but of carrying
on their business on Sunday. Does the
Mayor need any stronger "tip" than
thatP We have no controversy with
Mayor Dawson, but we are persuaded
that he can give the people of Hillsboro
a quieter Sunday, and We believe he
ought to do it. The time seems to be
propitious for the agitation of the Sun
day law. Barber shops and grocery
stores, in fact any store (drug stores ex.
cepted) that keeps back or front doors
open should be firmly informed by those
in authority that such things will not
be tolerated in Hillsboro. We speak
this for the welfare OF the town and not
for any personal motive.