The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-03-21
SUNDAY LAWS.

The people generally will approve
md should approve of the action of
Prosecuting Attorney Blackwell and
Mayor Winkler in serving notice upon
the saloons that they must strictly
observe the statutes of the state and
The ordinances of the city in regard
10 Sunday closing. The theme is a
5hreadbare one, tut there seems to be
4 great deal of hazy thinking upon
he subject OF Sunday laws. From
.isoe to time people become aroused
cart it and the civil officers are
Wh.ted to believe that the people
neasupport them in the enforcement
neae law. The circuit judge in
stscts the grand jury to find indict-
hlts against all the violaters of the
Hday statutes. They do so, and
ngs are closed up tight for a while.
Den the people themselves relax.
Hey find that they do not want the
W enforced as badly as they thought
ley did. They find the ice box
npty, they forgot to provide them
Ives with tobacco, they would take
) take a drive, they want to get a
nave, there is not enough meat for
inner, the coal oil can is empty,
heir shoes need shining and the
backing box can't be found, If the
milk man does not come there a be
40 ice cream for dinner. Then they
think Of the omnibuSes and the
street cars and the railroads ard the
ferry boats all running, and wonder
why the meat shops and the grocery
stores and barber shops may not stay
open for their accommodation, for a
little while at least, on Sunday morn
ing.
People, especially those who COM
plain, ought to be willing to face the
following facts and acknowledge them:
1. That the failure of Sunday laws
is not and never has been due to
the unwillingness of the officers
of the law to enforce them.
2. That those against whom the
laws are directed are not nearly
SO intent upon violating them as
their patrons, the public.
3. That the eason why people do
not support their officers in en-
forcing the laws is because they
are themselves parties to the vio-
lation Of the law.
4. That the law has absolutely moth
ing to do with Sunday in It's re-
ligious aspect.
5. That Sunday laws are entitled t.
the same respect as other laws
and ought to be observed by all
good citizens or else removed
from the statute book.
A vast majority Of those who sell,
things over a counter would be GLAD
TO have one day Of rest, if their pa.
irons would let them and if theil
competitors would not take advan-
tageo Of them. The truth appears t
be that when the public talks about
S%unday-law enforcement it means tht
enforcement Of that part Of it which
relates to the saloons. 1t is natura
that this should be so, since thu
moral effects of open saloons ar,
worse than the moral effects of othe
open business houses; but it is ais
natural that the saloons should b
more inclined to violate the Sunda.
laws than other business houses, be
cause relatively Sunday is a NOR
profitable business day to them tina
TO other business concerns. 1t vii
be seen by anybody who wants to Sc
that It IS a far more serious thin
from the business standpoint OF tn
owners, to stop saloons, ice wagon
and livery stables on Sunday than t
close dry goods stores, hardwar
stores and banks. But the statute
make no distinction They are al
classed together as unlawful occups
lions The state law reads;
every person who shall eltht
labor himS, II, or COMPEL or perm
his apprentice or servant, or an
other person under his charge or Col
troll, to labor or perform any wor
other than the household otic S
daily nece ,siiy, or other work OF n
cessity or charity or shall be guilty
hunting game or shooting On u
frst day OF the week, common
called Sunday, shall he deemed guilt