The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-03
Petition Bearing 1900 Names Indi-
Gates Where the LabOring Men
stand on the Question.
BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE
MADE BY JOHN T..
BRUSH AND MIR. STANsFIELD.



house, to consider the bill to legalize Sun
day ball playing in Indianapolis. which was
passed by the House last week. The room
was crowded with friends of the measure
and members of the Minister'S Association.
The committee heard the Rev. Joshua
Stansfieid. chairman of the ministers COM
mittee and Charles f. Coffin, attorney,
present the case for those who oppose the
measure and also John T. Brush, presI-
dent OF the New York Baseball Club and
John l.. Feltman, ex-president of the Cen
trail Labor Union, who spoke for the meas
ure. After the four gentlemen presented
their views the committee went into execu,
tive session, and it is said will be ready to
report the bill back to the Senate to-day
with a recommendation that it be passed.
The strongest argument in favor of Sun
day ball in this city was presented by the
last speaker, Mr.. Feltman. In presenting
his argument he placed upon the table in
front of the committee a huge bundle, and,
carefully unwrapping it, he said:
FELTMAN'S STRONG ARGUMENT.
Senators, members OF the committee
having under consideration the Sunday
baseball bill and gentlemen here petit
tons signed by over 1900 workingmen of
this city who are voters and who petition
the Senate to pass the bill now pend.ng
in the Senate to legalize Sunday bail In
Indianapolis These petitions were circu-
lated only since last Friday, and there arc
additional petitions outstanding with over
5000 names attached which will be added
to the list here given. These are not
blanket petitions, the signatures are al;
bona fide.
'''ThqGQ MI Of nd lie
men who work six days of the week and
have Sunday as their only day for rest and
recreation. In addition to these petitions
j represent eighty-five labor organizations
of this city who have adopted resolutions
urging the passage Of the Sunday baseball
bill. In addition to the separate unions
resentatives of all the labor unions of the
city, has adopted resolutions in favor OF
the passage of the bill. can therefore
state that L represent organized labor in
this matter.
Gentlemen the opposing side have
stated that they do not believe that work.
ingmen desire Sunday baseball. They are
mistaken. One of the principal reasons this
bill is now before the Legislature Is the
fact that workingmen urged the manage
ment of the indianapolis Baseball Club %
play Sunday games and to secure legisla-
ton whereby the game would be legalized
in this city The toiers of Indianapolis
want Sunday baseball. 1T Is a harmless
amusement, and we believe IL would be "a
step toward better moral conditions.
HARMLESS AMUSEMENT.
Under the provisions of the bill, which
states that games could be played between
the hours of 2 and 6 o'clock and with no
intoxicating liquors sold on the grounds,
the toilers of this city find absolutely no
objections to the bill We believe that such
games would give to the workingmen a
place to spend Sunday afternoon in HARM
less amusement and recreation. and would
take many of them away from other places
where they might spend their money in
drink. The working people want Sunday
baseball and we ask you gentlemen to make
a favorable report on the bill.
John t. Brush spoke of his observations
and experience with Sunday baseball games
during his twelve years connection with
the game as president of the Cincinnati Ma
tional League club. Mr.. Brush said that
when he assumed control of the Cincinnati
club he was opposed to playing Sunday
games, and the club did not play Sunday
games the first year Such pressure was
Cincinnati that he decided to try Sunday
games the next season. There were no in
toxicating liquors sold in the park. and the
behavior of the crowds made such i'm
preston upon him, he said. that during the
remaining eleven years of his connection
with that club there objections to
the club playing Sunday games. Crowds
began assembling at the Cincinnati park
Sundays when there were games as
early as IL o'clock and they were at the
park all afternoon, where they enjoyed a
harmless game of baseball. The crowds
would number from 5000 to 5000 people.
and during the entire eleven years of Sun
day ball playing there was never the
slightest disturbance and no occasion to
make arrests. This fact. he said one
of the strongest arguments that could be
advanced in favor of Sunday games.
IN OTHER CITIES
Mr.. Brush also referred to the fact that
Sunday games are played in nearly every
city in Indiana except Indianapolis. In
Ohio. where the law against Sunday ball is
very stringent, Sunday games played in
every city except Cleveland. He spoke of
all the cities i'm New York having profess
sional clubs playing Sunday ball, and de-
clared that during the past six or seven
years the New York National League club
could have played Sunday games had An
drew Freedman. late president of that club.
so desired.
The committee listened intently to the
arguments advanced by both Mr.. Feltman
and Mr.: Brush and when Mr.. Brush arose
to speak one of the members of the COM
mittee turned in his chair, saying: II want
to have a good look at you. you have
been leading spirit in the national game
for years"
The same theories of Sabbath dissertation
advanced by the Rev. Stansfed in his SER
mon at the Meridian-street NJ E. Church
sunday morning were presented by him
before the committee yesterday afternoon
He alluded to the vast crowds of Sunday
excursionists that would come to Indian
apolis If Sunday games were played here,
and said he did not believe in the argu-
ment which had been advanced that Sun
day games would keep the crowds away
from saloons and resorts. He said large
crowds would come to Indianapolis. and
the saloons and resorts would be crowded
| If Sunday ball were legaiiZed. He said
temptation would be thrown in the path of
the young men and young women of this
city which would lead to further desecra-
ton and immortality
Charles F. Coffin stated that he appeared
before the committee as an attorney and a
citizen to denounce the Sunday base ba II
bill. He said he never has been a back
slider on the Sunday baseball proposition.
His arguments were not confined to the
moral side OF the matter as much as TO the
| legality of such action. He said such a
/ bill should not be framed TO affect only In
dianapolis. but should include every city