The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-21
SUNDAY FOOTBALL.

AgTOtJA, NOV. 20. Editor Asto-
rtAn, In company with all lovers u
dsceucy and good order and " the
observance " the common laws ~
morality In our city, was simply
amazed at the Opsn cOuntenatce given
~ the football game on sunday after.
noon. by the Sunday morning Ast0r-
ian.
No ons who had any self respect. ~
alone respect for Gods day. could have
seen and kedrd the noisy crowd. Of old
and young, coming home from the
game ana moi been Impressed with the
shamelcmsness Of II all At intervals
during ths summer. this has occurred.
~ the excusc given, that the Ilwaco
team could come no other day" had
no barring whatever,
The aanctity Of the Sabbath has been
repeatedly violated ana an indignlty
put upon the Christian element Of the
community, that has become too fre-
qucni ana too great tO bear longer IN
silence.
Allow me 10 ask of you. ~ the
editor Of the leading paper ~ our city,
n fcw pertinent questions Who
noul1s public opinion In the city Of
AaoraG Have the Christian people
no Influence az all? Must they slt by
ana allow this open violation Of the
L0rI'p day to pass unrebuked and
unnDtiCd7
II the 4. +. c. 10 Of - much more
Importance and bs-nefit 10 the city
thnn the churches and their Influence,
then We Christians should hide our
faces IN shame. that W. are not more
powerful and Outsp0ken against the
eva influence Of these sunday games.
Every church member. and there are
many of them, who Ia also a member
Of the A. r. G. would earn the respect
Of all right minded people. u they
should withdraw from the club, or de-
nan1 that thsre should be no more
sunday games. admire any man
who honestly speaks his convictions,
whether he is "A private citizen or
editor of a public journal, but cannot
believe the Astortan voiced the senti-
m"nt q its editor when II printed the
item regardias the lag, Sunday foot
II Astoria II % step 10 the front
commercially. as Wv pll expect. she
must FIRST .arn the respect of the gen
erai public and ~ the stranger seeking
a place for investment and home.
can she do this by advertising her
frequent open violation Of the Sabbath
through her leading daily paper?
Yours with regret for the necessity
Of this lctter.
MARY II. ELMoRE.
The Astorian remarked. and II IL
true. that athletic contests on Sunday
arc prohibited by all intercollegiate
associations and all reputable athletic
clubs This Is not done altogether from
motives 81 morality. bu, to avoid offend
Ing the religious element. 4 journal
that Is supported by the general pub
lic Is hardly In a position 10 direct the
personal conduct Of individuals. but
the Astoria1 has warmed local ath-
letcs that Sunday playing Is bad form.
So far az the excuse that the llv'aco
players had no other day Is concerned.
Il was published as given 20 the As
torian. The fact that the game would
be played was a matter Of news and
published as such. And since that pub.
ilcallnn has inspired the above letter,
Christian people In Astoria may be
aroused to take action, not only
against sunday fqStbeil. but against
the more nagrant and deadly evils
which thrive IN Astoria. Athletic
contests are in ,hemselyes harmless
and even pralseworthy. The harm Of
Sunday football lies not in the deed,
but In the day. The sanetity OF the
sabbath cannot be- urged upon those
not claiming to be Christians. That
Sunday playing is bad form and hurt
ful 10 true sport cannot be denied. The
AStorlan does not favor Sunday con-
tests Of any sort, although It gives the
news concerning them. The Astorian
does not beneve in populism, yet hI
chronicles Bryan's speeches aud move
ments. The article in question stated
that young men could tind worse ways
OF spending the Sabbath than playing
football and this is true. Gambling,
open, public gambling, is gollg on inI
Astoria every day IN the week. sun
day Included. This is contrary to law,
and Is the most harmful Of all dissipa-
lions. Gambling wrecks more men than
does drink and is the snare that en-
traps young men by the thousands.
The Astorial could hardly Justify it,
self for attacking Sunday football
from a moral standpoint, while other
positive fragrant and easily durable
evils exis.. The letter of Mrs Elmore
Is timely and courageous and may in
luce the better element Of Astoria to
think and act and thus rid Astoria of its
reputation as tough town" II is
hut Just t. say that the game last
Sunday was not played under the
ausrices of the A. +, c.