The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-29

IL laflhS Desn asserted tlat waiter
Lyon, the Republican candidate for
lieutenant governor, had, while state
senator, favored the repeal of the spec
ial sunday Observance statute apply
ing TO Allegheny county, and was,
therefore, adverse to wholesome OBJ
servance Of the weekly day Of worship
and rest, Mr.. Lyon has addressed let
ter TO Edwin X. Hart, one of tine dirsc-
tors Of the Philadelphia Sabbath asso.
citation, explaining his true attitude.
The letter will not please everybody,
but it is nevertheless frank, stroighC-
forward and explicit 1t is IA follows:
l believe in the Christian Sabbath; and
believe that tho Sabbath should be the
same tbruu Ihout the state and that tho
laws regulating it should be uniform
throughout the state Under Our present
constitution all criminal laws must ne gem
eral. and tue special law relating to Ale
gleny county could not now be placed
upon the statute books. That law i'm
posed Il greater penalty for violation of
the Sabbath in Allegheny county than in
any other parts Of tho state. and was 80
taken advantage Of for the purpose OF
blackmail and private persecution that it
became Objectionable to people who are
Sabbath Observers aud favor Just laws
regulating it, and many thousands Of peo-
pls from Allegheny county pe.itiOned the
legislature for repeat Of the law SO
us TO briug Allegheny county exactly
within the laws Of 1894 with the other
counties Of the state. i advocate the re-
peal, and am now in favor OF it. As to
your inquiry, as to whether | favor the
mobilization Of the act Of lI9i, in the di.
rectioH attempted by representative Fow
and others at Harrisburg in 1853. ! can
only say do not know what this modifca-
tion was. | entered the senate near the
end OF the session and am not familiar
with any legislation that has been proposed
upon the subject, except the repeating act
which l have Just mentioned. / believe in
a Just enforcement OF all laws against
crime, ana include in this category tho
laws against unnecessary worldly employ
ment On the Sabbath, The summary power
given magistrates in the act Of 1894 is OBJ
noXiOuS and should be amended by con-
ferring jurisdiction upon the courts Of
quarter sessions over oilenses against tine
sabbath, a5 over other criminal offenses
instead of q fine Of ST. | would increase
the penalty to any amount necessary, by
making a maximum fine or Imprisonment
or both, in the discretion Of the court, aud
punish thCyiOlatOTs according to the gravity
Of the defence. You ask il am IN favor
Of excepting railroads from the oct of 70l?
! answer, no. As to newspapers, believe
that the Sunday paper has come to stay,
and tie great majority Of the people are
in favor Of them, but their sale should be
so regulated that deliveries shOgld DO made
early in the day, aud crying aloud their
sale on the streets on Sunday should DO
prohibited.
1t will be observed that Mr. Lyon
does not hida behind evasious. He
speaks right out. Tho objection
raised to Sunday newspapers by most
persons is, fret the frothy quality Of
their contents in many instances; and
secondly, the noise and turmoil created
by tho hawking and crying of thom
upon the public streets The frat OBJ
j2ction cannot bo cured by legislation.
since it would involve an uneoastitu-
tional censorship, As to the second,
,hero Is 9 spirited difference Of opiu-
ion, Mr. Lyon speaks his mind frankly.
Those VINO do not agree with him must
at least respect his canior II Sunday
papers, which are mostly made on Sat-
ugday, were distributed quietly early
Sunday morning, the plea of civil dis
turbsncs could not be raised, whatever
might be said with reference to the
spiritual side of TIE question,