The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-16

MS dSSuEaAell AcHNNANNeA' AhV hAui'N
editor seems rather 70 have preferred
not to be embarrassed BY msrs facts
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
The decision Of tho Christian miuis-
ters of Scranton TO inaugurato move
msut for better Sunday Observance
will be welcomed by sll honest believ-
ers in law and order. MSny abuses
have developed locally with rsspeo; to
the Sunday statutes wbich put Scran'
ton in false ligh, before visitors and
DO an injustice TO the larger portion OF
our own citizenship No one will con.
tend. for instance, that the great mass
OF Scrautonians a.s plrpoSsly or even
consciously autSEoIistic 70 law. They
have as profound 3 respect for the say
ing spirit Of the various statutes against
gambling Illicit liquor selling and the
many other common forms OF
thoughtlsss or malicious vice as has
any ike community anywhere They
would net, il the matter was properly
called to their attention. remain for
long in su attitude o; apparent
Indifference to these lax phases Of
law administration which, by
slow accumulation, DO not look
50 pslpa5ls to them IS they sppsar %
the Impractical eyes Of o6s7ryaut y,si
tors. Undoubtedly much Of the odium
into which the anthracite region has
fallen IN the estimation Q: outside crit
les can be traced 70 this .oOssusss 10
Sunday Observance walsh. while IA
miliar and alm3s; iloEensi7s to those
accustomed TO it from birth, nevsrth,-
less looks bad 20 those VINO view it
rnisurds-stardilsly from a distance
Overlooking, because having no chance
70 estimate the great cog5islity ubsr-
ality aud gooi-heartedness Of our pao-
pie. they come abruptly to the false
conclusion that we are / community Of
chronic lavbraakars and proceed to
give Is coCrsspoudinsly low rating
in the social scale; whereas, if they
could enter tglly into the spirit of our
customs this asperisy Of criticism would
give way TO more charitable sympathy
and sp Jgecistiol.
But there are other persons than
ministers who should unite to expedite
this necessary movsusnt Iacongru-
Gus as il may appear TO name the two
classes in such closa j1z;aposi;ioa, toe
licensed local retailers Of malt ami
spicisuous liquors ought TO occupy no
lasgsrd's place in the efforts to vinii-
cate law and order We DO not expect
this assertion to escape sharp criticism
We DO not forget the existence in
Scranton Of earnest men who view in
every 7endsr Of alcoholic stimuIalt a
direct incarnation OF Satanic impulse
wholly beyond hope Nevertheless.
We are prepared TO maintain, before
1nyraiuiiced and impartial Jurors.
that it Is the duty Of the liquor dealers
themselves TO work shoulder to
shoulder with the ministers and the
constablas ia a conca-tsl effort to pro-
mote honest law Observance. Add
why? Are they not each forced By the
siaGe TO pay $500 for the privilege Of
pursuing their business? IL It not to
their direct pecuniary gain to have
this busiaess continual under the recOg
milton aud with the lsassl sanction Of
the law2 Butif they do not themselves
put forth sincere effort to Drs5sr7s the
law. how can they expect to stem the
rising sentiment which disappro7ss Of
the license system altogether and
which wolIi sz.srminate their busi
ness utterly Again, why should the
respectable retailers be- forced to pay
the large pric3 asked By the state for
it's legal protection II they are not
aiterward to get that promised protec-
tion? And, IL they do not have any
alternative bus to pay tbs price, why
90 they not Cooperate 70 insist upon
getting what they pay Tor, which ia to
Say, freedom from Illegal competi-
tion1 Whether this question is viewed
in its relation TO ethics. or simply to
vulgar dollars and csnts. the conclu-
sion Is identical in either case that I
ia the duty Of those licensed retailers
who really believe they are engaged in
Legitimate business and who are will.
ing that the license law shall be en-
forced to its strictsst letter. provided
the enforcement be impartial, thorough
and uniform, to enter heartily and earn
estly into this coming camplign for
law and order.
The last proviso, though. Ia impor.
tant II ia fair. II ia Just. There
should be general move all along the
line, and not a singling out Of one
place or another, In the manner oi
blackmailing constablss or detectives
The remark made upon this Hubis act by
local retailer yesterday deserves
thought. lie said II pay $500 for a
license and | want $500 Of protection
from it, would much rather close
my place on Sunday than to keep II
open. / would much rather observe
all the details Of tho license law tina n
TO overlook one Of them. Why2 b.
cause IL do the law will last longer
and can remain In business longer. But
l cannot afford to pay $500 license
money for year Of 300 business days
and yet be compelled to compete with
man next door who sells TO customers
1856 days each year for the same
price. 1t isn't business. l." But it is bust
ness for thel reputable dealer to com
bine with his reputable brother dealer
and prosecute the law breaker. And tina
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