Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-07-28
THE MASS MEETING.
The Meeting Well Attended-Reso,
lutiOns AdOpted-The Matter Thor
Oughly Discussed.

u q
afternoon by the Christian people
and business men of Salem who had
gathered to see what could be done
80 induce the discontinuance of the
practice of Sunday ball playing and
other amusements Of the kind on
the Lords day. Tie question was
discussed at length both pro aud
con, principally against the game in
any form Oh Sunday.
Col. VIM. n. Ladue was unaui-
mously elected chairman of the
meeting and w. w. Martin was
chosen secretary.
Col. Ladue first gave a short ad =
dress in which he told The object of
their coming together and what
had brought about such a meeting
and among other ihings said: We
do not intend To force our particular
views upon any body, but have
come here to consider huw to hes;
approach this subject, how to have
such Sunday amusements discon-
tinued and do it in ain imicable and
harmonious way. We have beau
tiful city; we are just now beginning
to extend cement wulks to differ
ent parts of the city; her shade
trees and parks, her fine public insti-
tutions, schools and churches have
given her a reputation far and wide,
and now shall we sully her fair name
as a city of churches and schools 10y
Sunday excursions and public games
on the Sabbath day?
The committee VINO were APP
pointed to confer with the managers
of the Salem baseball were next
called upon for their report. w. T.
Rigdon responded with verbal
report in which he said: The com
mittee consisting of Mr.. VanEaton
and himself had called on the man
ayers and had received but little en-
enlargement toward the discontinu-
ance of the Sunday game, as it was
not in their power to stop the league
which was being formed, and the
financial life of the league depended
largely on the Sunday game; that
the managers intended to make the
game as unobjectionable as possible,
that they forbade betting or profane
language on the grounds, that they
had already deAied a foot race to
take place on the grounds on which
there was money staked, that in
their opinion if the present manag-
ers should give 1t up, the game would
probably fall into less moral hands
and would not be as respectable as
at present, yet they believed that it
was impossible for any set Of men
however moral and respectable to
conduct a Sunday base ball game on
moral principles.
Judge Boise was called on, and .
responded with a few we'll chosen re-
marks. He said: "The Sabbath is an
old institution and upon its observ-
ance has been built our social devel- |
opment. 1t is better to keep the old
than to partake of the new, unless
we are convinced the new will con- .
duce to better advantages than the .
old. 1t is well for us to consider
whether the institution of Sunday
gaming will add to the city's pros
perity or social condition, whether
it educates our children to higher
morals or makes them better citizens.
If not, we should discourage it in
every way possible"
Mr.. r. S. Wallace spoke next. He
said, "this is not a church question
rs some are liable to think, but
question that concerns all the peo-
ple." He advanced the thought sug-
yested by Judge Boise, that it was
lot to the best interest of land owners
)r 10 the city in general to have such
games carried on on the Sabbath
lay.
Among the other speakers were
Rev. j. b. johnson, Mr.. Bridgford,
Leo Willis, Napolean Davis and Rev.
Il. Ii. Brown who took little diff
erent view of the subject than most ,
If the other speakers. He suggested ,
hat baseball in itselfeven on Sunday
Ifternoon was not so objection
Ible to him as TO some of the other
peakers and that he would advo-
ate some kind of Sunday afternoon ,,
for our young people,
hat, he would favor Sunday after
noon concerts. At the conclusion {
# his remarks he offered some reso- |
utions, but no action was taken on ,
hem,
Rev. G. l.. Corwin, Judge II. p.
Boise and II. $. Wallace were APP
pointed II committee to draft some
which were adopted and ,
,rdered published in the daily pa :
,ers of this city,
RESOLUTIONS,
Whereas, In the opinion of many
'itiZens of Salem the good name of :
,ur city as place of residence and 4,
is being endangered 10y
he ruthless desecration OF the Sab.
bath day;and
Whereas, the growth and prus- {
perity of tins city has been greatly
promoted by the good moral atmos-
phere which her educational and re-
lgiOus institutions have engendered
aud maintained, whereby many
good citizens have been induced to
make homes among us;