The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-19
As TO SUNDAY CLOSING.
It is Said the Gambling Houses are
Violating tho Sunday
Law.
70 ~
The Cler0ymen and Laymen Unit
ed on q Definite Course
Of Action.
The Rev. ID. b. Price, OF the Methodist
Church South, Has Some-
thing to Say.

While the grand jury was in session in tn
room formerly used az the senat
chamber. yesterday afternoon, severn
persons prominently identified will
tho Sunday closing movement wer
about the corridors. Among them wer
Rev. F. D. Kelsey, pastor of tn
First Congregational church, and Secretar,
Conner, Of the Young Mems Christian asso
citation. Tho Rev. D. B. Price, pastor O
the Grand Street Methodist Church South
who 10 an earnest worker in the movement
which has at times been agitated but which
has met with little success here 60 far, saiG
yesterday that the recent visit of the Rev. Mr.
Crafts has created renewed interest in The
cause. Since his departure the protestant
clergy and laymen have not allowed thu
question to be lost sight of. They have
counselled among themselves and have
determined to do all that 10 in
their power to mako success
Of their endeavors. s'This movement
il not particularly directed at the saloons, y
now any law upon the statute books of the
state which compel these places to shut
their doors ON Sunday. However there is q
provision In the Law, what we call the Sunday
law, which is mandatory in its terms with
regard to gambling houses and we propose
to sec 81 t1a a;n it i enforced if there is any
Tho gambling fraternity have with their
usual keenness, to borrow one of their
phrases, been keeping cases. ON the ques-
ton. One Of the most prominent gamblers
IN town approached one of the men con-
nected with the movement and said that he
was perfectly willing to close his house on
"a NJ a
the same.
I'VE have been assured" said Mr.. Price,
that something will be done in this mat
tar. So far it has been up hill work for us,
but we feel confident that we will accom-
plish what we are working for. The evil
dence which We have carefully gathered as
to the names Of tho ,proprietors Of these
houses and other matters necessary to be
had have been presented. We look for
some tangible results tomorrow, although
We are not now in q position to say any
thing positive. We have done our part of
the work. and are looking for Christian
manhood to be true to itself. Just look at
that there are ffty-fve gambling institu-
tions running every Sunday of the year in
plain violation Of the Law? The city off,
cials can do nothing about the matter, for
there is no authority delegated from the
state to the city government in such af-
fairs. 1t Is state question. If any
indictments are made, presume the
parties will be arraigned. After this
most likely the whole thing will come up in
the shape Of a question as to the constitu-
tionality Of the state law. When that is
finally determined in our favor, which We
hope will be the case, it will become NO.
torious that the law must stand. I don't
think that anyone will dare to question it
then and there will be only one thing for the
men who run such places to do and that will
be close up on Sunday. These men depend
upon the better class in the community for
their living and should be the first to re-
speot the law. There is another phase
about this matter which has been com.
mented upon and which heartily endorse,
and that 10 the business point of view which
can be taken of this question. I have no
doubt but that large amount of capital
has been diverted from investment
here merely because some men do
not wish to live in a
town where gambling games are in full
blast on Sundays.
"We have the support of large class of
our citizens in the movement. The clerey-
men of the different churches az we'll as the
lay members have all Joined in the cem-
mon cause. We have received letter from
Bishop Brondel of the Catholic congrega-
ton in which he assures us of his hearty
sympathy with US in our efforts toward q
reform Of the Sabbath" Secretary Conner,
Of the Y. N. G. A., has also been taking an
active part in all the work thus far accom-
plished. He said yesterday that their la
bors were about finished.