The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-10-09

c. T. u. is neither impertinent nor I'M
timely. It will, 1 doubt not, receive the
respectful consideration of the municipal
authorities In fact, l am reliably informed
that a majority of the board of commits
sioners of police have already expressed
themselves as being firmly in favor of as
strict enforcement of the Sunday law as
possible.
at is but just to say that not all the
saloonkeepers in this city violate the law
by selling liquor on Sunday. There are a
number of them who not only respect the
law, but favor its strict and universal OBJ
servance."
Mr.. d. G. Fox, also member of the po-
lice commission in reference to the saloons
being open on Sunday, said that the first
complaint that had been made came from
the w. c. T. u women.
Mr.. Fox spoke of the great good accom-
plished by the w. C. T. u.
''If the saloons are kept open on Sunday"
he continued, 1.-The members of the police
commission are not aware of 1t. An in
quiry will be made, and If the laws are
violated an enforcement will be in order.
The chief of police and his aids will be
notified to keep a sharp lookout for Of
tenders, and any violations will be report
Gu at once"
Mr.. Fox with other members of the COM
mission, conferred about the matter yes
terday They are deeply interested in all
.--e assertions that the ladies have made,
knowing that as far as the ladies are con-
cerne6 they would not have been made on
insufficient evidence. The commissioners
will look into the matter at once.
Captain W. C. Ward, while not men,
Der Of the commission, dwelt in reference
to the appeal upon the enforcing of the
laws ''The Sunday law" he said sis
against not only saloon and retail liquor
dealers, but against all storekeepers. This
law is, however, seldom violated except by
retail liquor dealers The law is a police
regulation intended for the protection of
the community Those who buy and sell
in violation of the laws are under obliga-
lions to observe the, law, whether they
think the law good and wise or not. Law
and custom in our country have set apart
Sunday as a day of rest, recreation ard
devotion and open saloons tend to destroy
the sacredness of the day and peace of
communities. 1t is not an infringement,
Captain Ward said, upon the rights of
the saloonkeeper or the drinker Society
demands that each member of 1t should so
use his own belief and exercise his own
right as not to injure others. A saloon
keeper has six days in which to vend his
LIQUOR and ought to be content with the
remainder of the community to give UP the
seventh day for the benefit of the citizens
The law ought to be enforced. Only by its
enforcement can the unwisdom. If 1t be an
unwise law, be demonstrated"
Several ladies' were interviewed yesterday
upon the subject Mrs. w. L. Murdoch
talked earnestly of the a=peal. She said:
at once remember hearing a friend say
of q sister state: oh, we have some grand
laws in our state, but she added quietly,
they are never enforced
"Such 1t seems to me, is our condition in
regard to the Sunday closing of saloons.
We have the law, but 1t is not enforced.
A law not carried out is worse than no
law, for it shows weakness in a community
that they will enact and thereby approve
a law and then pay no attention to its en-
forcement. I am convinced that the ma
jority of our people do not believe that the
saloons are open on Sunday, and probably
have read the appeal of the W. C. T. L..
and forgotten 1t. However, we know where
of we speak, and are convinced that the
best citizens of Birmingham wish US to be
a law-abiding community. Public agitation
will be followed continued Mrs Murdoch,
10y action, and If the people of Birming-
ham want the saloons closed on Sunday,
closed they viii surely be. The reasons
for Sunday closing are legion. Suffice lit to
give this one: We have law upon our city
statute which says the saloons of Birming
ham shall be closed on the Sabbath day.
Shall that law be dead letter, or shall we
demand its enforcement?
''It does not even seem right that a small
minority should control everything, and yet
that is just what they are doing here to-
day. I am told that there is not sufficient
police force to attend carefully to this mat
ter. l believe that If our citizens will de-
mand the spirit and letter of this law
there will be sufficient police to attend to
it. 1t is the inertia, the heedlessness of the
general public which allows these things to