New Ulm review., 1901-12-04
From St. Peter Free Press.

Whether or not stores should he closed
on Sundays ID the question that greatly
agitates the minds of the citizens of
New Ulm at present and, unless cooler
counsel prevails very soon, is likely to
engender hatred and bitterness among
ne1ghbors more lasting than the disturb
bance caused by the so-cailed school
fight some years ago.
Without discussing the strong and
weak points of the Sunday closing law,
there can be no question about its valid
ity, and if part of the citizens OF New
Ulm are determined to have it enforced
the other side will be compelled to sub
nit whether they like it or not.
At the same time Editor Green is de-
cidlY correct when he says, "The Sun
day law cannot be said to be enforced
strictly, or even more than very feebly
anywhere in Minnesota nor, indeed, in
any state" and we are surprised at the
Reviews attempt to brush this aside
with few sneering remarks foreign to
the subject under discussion,
It is a pretty safe assertion that no
town of any size in this state keeps its
stores and shops closed within the letter
of the law, and this being conceded the
violation of the Sunday closing law is
only question of degree and complete
ly ignores the principle involved.
Perhaps twill be argued that reason
able exceptions are always permissible
and ought not to be bar against the
enforcement of the law as general
proposition. This, no doubt, is true if
interpreted in spirit of fairness and
| within certain we'll defined limitations.
But who shall be the judge2 The Re-
view man, for instance, would think it
| rather presumptuous on the part of an
outsider should the latter remind the
pencil pusher of his inconsistency in
preaching Sunday closing for his neigh
bnr and then spend his own time on
that day in reading his exeh anges and
thus prepare for the cemlng week s
work. The hardware dealer, however
religiously inclined, would hardly re-
fuse, during harvest time, to sell any
thing to farmers on Sunday, IN the line
Iof machinery that they may see fit to
call for. The same rule applies to the
blacksmith the ,:wagonmaker, the gro.
Icersand the tobacco man. Nor does II
stop here. All lines of trade make ex-
ception and there is no time when a
buyer cannet dispose of hundreds Of
good hard dollars buying goods ON
any Sunday in any part of the state. In
fact, even the Brown County Journal,
posing as the champion of the Sunday
closing movement, winds up long ar
tlcle with the assurance that atliere is
nothing IN the contention by some that
this agitation will lead to the closing of
the saloons on Sunday, that no senti-
ment exists In that regard IN the city
and is something remote in the minds of
those interested in the present crusade
of closing the stores on Sunday" and
thus Ethat paper unconsciously en-
dorses the theory laid down above.
The Journal is perfectly willing to have
the groceryman arrested fo, selling q
pound of sugar on Sunday, but he en-
ters vigorous kick when an attempt is
made to deprive him of his glass of beer
in utter disregard for his contention of
the equal rights of all citizens alike.
To an outsider the whole agitation
looks a good deal like farce, gotten
up for an ulterlor purpose carefully
| withheld from view. No one acquaint-
ed with conditions in New Ulm will
take much stock in the long winded
articles to the contrary. To those who
happen to be in the majority the fight
may afford pleasure and profit, but in
the end all will come to realize that it
would have been far better had they OBJ
served the golden maxim, Do unto 9th
ers as you weuld have them do unto you.