The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-05

Special Dispatch to the Post-lntslligencer.
WHATCOM. Sept 4-The Sunday clos
.ng law has been IN force here now three
Sundays the county attorney having given
warning In the FRS, place 10 all saloons 10
close up on that day and later 10 ali other
business houses 70 do likewise. The nrst
Sunday after the decree the saloons. cigar
stands, candy shops and al other business
houses were absolutely closed. Not g.ass
OF beer. not even a peanut was sold in the
county. The streets were as 0uie, as any
Puritan would wish and the local beer
gardens as orderly a. churches. The aver
age church-goer went TO hear his !avorite
preacher and the rest OF the popuiat on
took the street cars 10 Lake Whatcom or
other resorts Or organized bicycle or buggy
excursions 10 the country.
The second Sunday there was no open
demonstration against the pronuncamento
OF the attorney. but there was some lax
ness in its observance. cigars were being
smoked that were not bought at dry stores
and more intoxicated men were seen on the
streets than on Sunday evenings hereto
fore
Yesterday. the third Sunday. there was
wide openness about this city that was
startling. The usual Sunday crowds were
on the streets The c.gar stores and fruit
stands were running. Across the front OF
one was a large syn. Restaurant and
another had Hotel" hung up in a con-
spicuous place In front. All OF the places
open had some sign TO show that the hum
gry could get something 10 eat there.
were closed and II looked as IL the propr!e-
tors were At church. but Il Was very evil
dent that great deal more beer and whis-
KY waS being drank than was obtained on
prescription from the drug stores.
Whether the Sunday closing Jaw VII
close is . question yet TO be decided in this
county. judging from yesterdays proceed
tngs II IL fact that there always has
Been a large amount Of staple goods sold
here on sunday.
The mills ana logging camps In the coun-
try are running full blast six days a week
The numerous employees have therefore
made Z custom TO come in Saturday
night late. and while the stores were nom
inaily closed. a man who " shed to do so
could always buy q suit Of clothes, a pair
OF boots or q package Of tobacco.
The army OF fishermen and cannery en-
ployes were In somewhat the same position
and . very .arwe amount OF money changed
hands between Saturday and Monday The
hotels and restaurants were also the bene-
hciaries OF the Influx OF visitors and the
saloons run wide open day and night
There In no doubt bu, that evasion. but
not open rebellion. In the policy 90 he adopt
ed 10 retain this patronage. which IL In
claimed the strict Observance Of the Puri-
tan Sabbath would drive 70 other towns
A continuance Of the clash Is bound 20 in
1ect the question into local politics one
element IL already throatenins the county
attorney with a political drubb.ne for what
y termed his pernc.ous activity while the
Epworth Leagues and kindred societies are
publishing resolutions assuring him OF their
moral support.
He takes q placid View of the situation
and answered one threat by saying that fu-
that he Was only attending to the duties
OF the present one.