The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-31
Sunday Closing.

Mayor Jones announces today MS de- |
termination to close the saloons on Sun
day We expect him to make his order
effective. Without takiag the public
into his confidence, he has been study
ing the question of Sunday closing ever
since he came into Office, and has been
preparing to make such an order ef-
fective in case it should seem to be
wise to issue it. ~
If we understand the mayors posi-
ton, he has been governed heretofore,
and is actuated now, by considerations
of the highest public interest. The wis
dom Of a Sunday closing movement ap-
pears to have been with him, until COM
paratively recently, matter for de-
bate. He has, however, given serious
consideration to the subject, has made
study of conditions here and condi-
tions in other cities where the law
against Sunday saloons is strictly en-
forced, and has arrived at the conclu-
sion that the time is ripe for forward
step in the restriction Of the liquor
traffic in this city. -..
One Of the most important prelimi-
naries necessary was the preparation OF
the police force for effective work in
this connection. Months have been
spent in reorganizing the force and in
developing that spirit Of efficiency and
loyalty to duty which is essential if an
order of this kind is to be effective.
The mayor feels that he is ready and
| has undertaken a task which has never
| before been successfully attempted in
this city for any considerable length
of time. .-
He has done more, however, than
strengthen the police force to prepare
for this order. He has demonstrated
that public gambling can be effectu-
ally uppressed-about which some have
| professed doubt He has segregated and
restricted the social evil, and in other
ways has demonstrated the power OF
an effective and vigorous administers
ton.
/ While he has been doing this, public
sentiment has moved along percePtibly
toward higher ground with respect to
the restriction Of vice and the regula'
tion of the liquor traffic.
While undoubtedly, the mayors or
Ger will in certain quarters provoke
something of an cutlery, while in others
it will be received by some with >ex
pressions of doubt and disapproval, we
believe that for the most part his
action will be approved and indeed
heartily sustained by large part Of
the people Of this city. It is too late
to attempt to Justify the saloon. The
evils which flow from it are too appar
tent, too conspicuous, too offensive, too
destructive of all. that is best in char
acter and in the social order to MAKE
it possible for anyone to justify its ex
istence. It is recognized as a neces
sary. evil--neeessary simply because i
cannot as yet be entirely abolished
The abolition Of it on Sunday, however
is calculated to minimize in very larg
degree it's evil influence. The Sunda,
saloon is u.nquestionably the worst sa
loon of the week, unless it be the Sat
urday night saloon; but against tn
Saturday night saloon there is no law
Sunday is the laboring man. leisur
hour and for thousands the saloon i
) their clubhouse-the only place, indeed
! where they may meet their friends an
associates for social intercourse. Thos
3 who most bewail the influence of tn
!, saloon have as yet failed to provid
j any substitute, any other place wher
+ the social instincts may be grati1ed s
y easily without the attendant evil of tn
a liquor saloon, and we are inclined t
q think that the saloon will never be SUI
cessfully and entirely eliminated as a
institution until it's enemies provide
4 substitute place where the social side q
the poor man, which is just as much
part Of him as of his more fortunat
brother, may be cultivated and satisfied
If the good people Of Minneapol
would second the efforts of the mayo
= most effectually they, will see thu
= the accommodations which the saloo
~ affords for social intercourse to it's re,
i ular habitues are provided for and mac
10 as readily accessible without the accon
"a panying evils Of the liquor traffic.