The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-09-24
THE RUBICON is PASSED
Open Warfare Between the Merchants
and the Spoilers.
THE MERCHANTS WIN IN couRl
The Crusade - Characterized as
Persec ution and the spies are
Told that They nre Not Folio wing
she Teachings Of Christ.

The quiet and orderly Sundays uusally
observed in North Yakima were meta.
morphosed into one Of excitement and
disorder on Sunday last, due to the action
OF the socalled Law and Order league,
a misnomer certainly, as was shown by
the disturbance created by them and
which fortunately terminated 10 more
seriously than in ill-feeline and the
blackened eyes and battered face OF one
of their number who acted as spotter.
Spies and sneaks 10 civil life have little
standing among men Of character. In
war all things are fair and spy is a
hero, for he takes his life in his hands to
work for his country's cause. Aside from
this a Spy is known as spotter and a
BILE to find.
1t was no wonder then, when the
aforesaid Law and Order league prevailed
upon some seven er eight young men to
sneak around on the Sabbath and en-
deavor to gain evidence against mer-
chants on that practically deadletter law,
known as the Sunday Closing act, that
a strong feeling was aroused in the com
munity in favor of the business men
who, struggling to keep their financial
heads above the menacing waves OF
disaster. TIE law never should have
been on the statute books and when
there should have received no more re-
gard than the blue laws OF Connecticut
which were nominally in force fifty years
after they were disregsrded by everyone
and only called up as a subject for laugh
ter and ridicule.
What the Law and Order league and
their spoilers tried to prevent was the
sale OF merchandise to the Indians, who
were unable to get away from the hop
fields during week days. This league
consists of several ministers, only two
of whom showed any activity in the
matter, and some of their church follow
ing. That they did not conduct a moral
crusade was evidenced by the fact that
OhO Va tbCh ShekCotCd tudb Ail0 1uuftib
set aside week day in which to do their
trading and work Oh Sunday. In this
way they would make the many desc
crate the Sabbath" in order to keep The
few from what these self appointed CEN
sors consider the latter's soul salvation.
The stores were closed on the preced-
ing Sunday and one of the effects was
that the Indians fearing they would be
unable to get their food supplies quit the
yards of John Stone on Saturday last,
leaving four kilns of hops uncompleted,
resulting in total loss.
Is it any wonder then that the citizens
felt outraged at the stand taken by these
people, especially as they we're practically
non-taxpayers, some of them scarcely
Identified with the country by residence,
and the costs were expected to fall on
an overwhelmed county, state and peo-
pie. THE HERALD thinks not. A cru
SADIE that was very similar was organ
lied by Yakima minister number OF
years ago. He hadn't dollar invested
in the town, but he proposed and did
carry his peculiar reforms" through.
Within three months business had
dropped off half and in less than six
months everyone was SO povery stricken
that the church collections were not great
enough to warrant the ministerial re-
former to remain and he took wings and
few to the Lord knows where.
THE HERALD has felt this matter keen
ly in the interest OF burdened people
and in the interest OF civil and religions
liberty, and in consequence has allowed
itself to become somewhat voluble and
digress from the points of news, which
it will now turn to.
As result of the frequent conferences
of the Law and Order league, of which
J the Reverend Sslyer seems TO be the
guiding and pushing star, number OF
young men were delegated as spoilers to
bring in evidence. The ministers, with
the instincts of war generals, kept them
selves in the backgrounds and we're not
to be seen, although directing the plan
of battle.
The first foray was made ON the bust.
ness house OF Coffin Bros, where George
Glazier, one of the assaulting force, had
his hand pinched in the door. Then he
endeavored to force his way into Otter
Bros. store, and this time his foot was
caught in the door and he was somewhat
roughly handled by number OF young
men who were standing on the sidewalk
and had no sympathy for the sneaking
methons pursued by Glazer. The spot.
tiers then consulted Prosecuting Attorney
Englehart. who advised them against
forcing their way into business houses,
but this advice was UNDECIDED, and J. L.
Staekhouse and Glazier tried to go into
Rosenfeld's Mr.. Dan Resented in
formed them that no business was
being done with citizens and that theil
room was more acceptable than theil
company. The hint was not taken, ant
Mr.. Rosenfeld attempted to push then
! out. They resisted, and then the ful
commenced to fly. Danny isn't heavy