The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-07
va ,,1.,I BUSINESS HOUSES CLOSED
 '''' TIGHT IN MONTGOMERY TODAY

much grumblinx that the fruit stands were covered with the wooden panelling that serve them, for doors. the wiener wurst boyb' blew out their lfghts and ceased thSir cfl1s of fred hot" the soda founts ceased their labors and the bar rooms closed their doors..
 On Commercs street there are several fruit stands that have no doors and the propeietefe were in . diiemmA.
 A dienified patrolman walked leisurely dtwn Commercs Street. Eweeyfhing was closed ,isht. Nobody could De seen on the .trt ct hut, a sleepy hotet clerk He suddenly pulled up A fruit stand was open. The very places that had becn warned The policeman accosted the evi- dently interested Italian who was guard ing the interests of A. D. Fabritis.
 ''what do you mean. py being open:' inouired the patrolman. Didn't you hear the cineg strike tweivea Why ain't you closedr'
 Closer yelped the Italian. T no Her. mann. Gan seiia banan. peanutta ana fried fish, but notta make door in ten sec Policeman tell me shut up store. how I shut up store! Gotta no door. gotta no key, gotta no keyh6le. and you tella me shut up. Eef go away. nigga take de banan. eef stay policeman pulla Tor no closa. Santa Maria! why did leava mic caro ItAIyia? Americana fool. How can poor Petrio shut uppa de door when dere no door to- shut up7'
 Tho policeman was astounded with the logic ana was duly impressed. The police cfpfsin was appealed to and he decided 'thSt tho fruit stand could stay open as lont .Sas It. could not be shut, but no goods would De sold.
 Alinday yesterday the closing question was subject of current comment on the street and the extent of the enforcement was somewhat exaggerated by the gos- sips.
 The following communication was re- ceiyed by The Advertiger last night from a welI-known citizen of Montgomery:
 ."I noticed in this mornings paper that through the efforts of the retail clerks. a special order has been given by the May or to enforce the law requiring the clos ing of stores on Sunday.
 Does 1t not strike the average think ing man as queer that the attention or city oficials must ~-be called to condition that Is wellxknown to any citizen who walks down town on Sum day morning? Are laws made only to be obcyed after the special attention Of those who should see that they are observed is called to violations? However. We will pass that up in the hope that in future the law will be obeyed. k/&
 Now, what is in the way of extending tbis a little further by the Bartenders Union calling the attention of the proper officials to the disregard of the Sunday closing law by their employers. especially on Sunday nights, and obtaining the same relief7 Is not bartender in peed or rest after six strenuous days and nights; and Is 1t not perhaps more important to prevent a man from obtaining a drink on Sunday than a clean collar or a new tie? While the doors of the saloons or Montgomery seem to be closed on Sun day: anyone who observes only casualty can prove to his satisfaction that busi- ness is going on just the same. Even blind man, by standing near by. can get enough evidence through the sense of hearing to convince him tkat the bar keeper Is not getting a rest.
 ..Recentiy we had the very remarkable case of a saloon proprietor asking the city authorities to enforce the Sunday closing law, saying that he observed 1t but was losing patronage to others wno did not. Was this not stinging slap Tn the face of our law enforcers!
 Where are the police all this time Are they properly instructed? Surely they must be; and if they haven't enough backbone to carry out the law, snouio not a change be made?
 ..It might be well for me to add that l am neither a retail clerk nor barten- der. but would like to see the law en- forcAd. and every man get his one day rest in seven, according to higher law than that made by man.