The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-26
"CLOSE' SUNDAYS
MAY YET COME
MAYOR JONES SAYS THEY ARE
NOT IMPOSSIBLE
Other Cities Which Originally Scoffed
at the Idea Have Found Sunday
Closing Not Only Feasible but Popu-
lar, He Says-Talk Made to the Park
Avenue Mems Club.

"Close'' Sundays are not an impos.
sibility in Minneapolis, according to
Mayor D. P. Jones.
Speaking before the Mems club at
the Park Avenue Congregational church.
last evening, the mayor adverted to the
keen interest being aroused in municipal
affairs among such men as composed the
power to secure whatever they desired
in the way Of law enforcement if they
maintained their enthusiasm and activ
ity. Other cities where the "close"
Sunday had originally been deemed i'm
possible had demonstrated not only it's
feasibility but it's popularity as well, and
he saw no reason why Minneapolis
under certain conditions should not
have the same kind Of Sabbath OBJ
This talk of the mayor s was wholly
impromptu, as he had gone to the meet
ing with the understanding that he
| was not to be called upon to speak. His
utterance, therefore, cannot be con-
strued as a formal enunciation Of any
fixed policy or determination on his
part. 1t is deeply significant, how
trend of executive thought.
The meeting was the third annual
banquet of the Mems club. President
S. T. Johnston presided and after an
elaborate menu had been served by the
ladies of the church, Rev. j.. M. Cleary
was introduced as the principal speak
er Of the evening. Father Cleary pro-
ceeded to give carefully thought out
argument in favor Of protecting the
snares set for him upon Sunday. by
liquor interests which want his money.
Pointing out the vital Importance of
public morals as conserving factor in
the nation, he argued that the persist
emit violation of law and ignoring of
authority was most dangerous. He
stated fatty that the so-called "for'
eral Interpretation of Sabbath laws
was demanding something it's represen:
tatives had never known in their re,
spective old world homes where the
regard for authority was most prom
inent feature. The duties Of the law
loving elements in the community to-
ward enforcing. Sunday observance
given by the speaker to his statement
tation corporations were allied with the
saloon against the poor man s Sunday
He ridiculed the idea that the saloo1
was the poor mans club and cite6
many specific instances where the Sun
day saloon was the sink-hole into which
went the major part Of many labor
ing mems wages. ~ -
In his talk, Mayor Jones agreed
heartily with Father .Cleary's arraign
ment Of the big brewing interests al
the real power debating and encourag
ing the violation of Sunday laws HI
stated that for many months he hat
l been working upon specific problems Of
4 city, government and told his hearers
that all citizens must be patient will
4 the mayor. He was the mayor of al
; the people and as such it was his duty
/ to see that every citizen was protected
: to the full extent of his legal rights
ltewas also the duty of citizens wh,
loved law enforcement to uphold tn,
mayor in his work along that line an,
In the broad way the task was purel,
theirs. 49,.
The meeting was the annual bushes
q meeting Of the Men s club and variou
= reports of a most encouraging natur
+ were received. The organization wa
. found to be out of debt and the gym
nasium, for which maximum member
! ship of 200 had been predicted, alread
r had $50 members enrolled. The sec
! retary's report showed the club thorol
!, awake to the possibilities before i
J. AS closing feature, the committee O
: nominations reported, recommendin
y the reelection of all the present off
y GERS, which was done bv standing vote