The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-31
have HOT DEBATE
Sunday Closing Advocates and
Ants Clash.
Council Chamber Packed With
Interested Spectators.
DEAnV NAD HAHGH
READY FOR A LAUGH.
Speakers Are Jeered When
Points Made Are Weak.
Monster Petitions OH Both
Sides Are Submitted.

Its the big fellers swallowin' up
! the little fellers. That's what started
this. Here is a little fellow dom some
business out here and maxim a few
dollars and the big fellow sees him.
He says, Here this won't do. By
junks, have got to stop this And
then this is what comes. I have never
heard SO many generous people be-
fore. Everybody wants everybody else
to rest. Who's tired? That's what I
want to know. Who's tired?'' said P.
S. Withers, a groceryman, at the po-
lice committee meeting of the council
last evening. He emphasized his re-
marks by pounding the floor with his
cane.
Then a tall lank fellow got up in
the rear of the council chamber. He
Strengthened himself and cleared his
throat. Here is this Sunday closing
coming along And l guess you will
be closing up the restaurants and
hotels too pretty soon.l Now l am an
old bachelor. How am 1 going to get
along? How am I going to get some
Get married This is soon going to
be leap year." yelled some one else.
A laugh went up.
There is more liquor sold in this
town of Topeka than in any city of its
size in the United States said N. B.
Arnold.
RdtS, yell0O out man III uefI-
sion.
These are few sample remarks
caught at random at the meeting that
was held at the council chamber last
evening to discuss the revision of the
present ordinance which forbids the
sale of merchandise, except that
which may be construed as an actual
necessity. on Sunday. 1t was a noisy,
clamorous meeting. The room was
damned to its utmost capacity, three
hundred edged their way in, filled the.
window receSSes, crowded into the
space reserved for the members of the
council, craned tn cir necks to see from
where they were standing six deep in
the adjoining committee room and the
corridor leading to the council cham
Der.
The three members of the police
committee consisting of Councilmen
H B. Howard, EFF Stanley and e.
Montgomery occupied places at vant>
age on the platform.
After listening to all of the speeches
the members of the committee an
rounced that they would go into ex-
ecutive session. The crowd filed out
and the committee after getting over
into one corner and whispering long
time stated that they were unprepareo
to make a .reeomm endation due TO the
lateness of the A1aHr. r. They will meet
again. Fridays evening In executive SEES
sion. 1--WE have got call the Informal
ton we want from the public, we Will
now try to come to some decision"
said n. B. Howard, chairman of the
committee.
Anumber of petitions were presented.
On file with the city clerk and with the
committee are petitions both for and
against. A petition signed by 243 bust
ness men against any modification of
the present ordinance, another of SIM
liar character signed by 2.705 church
a petition of 1872 business
men asking for an open Sunday and
of the Topeka Trades Coun-
ell asking for an open Sunday were
presented last evening.
IF you want to pack your churches
so that the boots will be sticking out
of the steeples you ought to introduce
q bill Mr.. Chairman, that will not per-
nit anyone to go to church" said |
Joseph G. Waters in opening UP the
evenings programme of speeches You
chain the unbelieVer captive to |
your chariotS and make a convert of |
him by force. Ever since 1 have lived |
in this town I have seen grand old |
diplomats and grand old moralists go |
up and down these streets but who |
have never yet passed such drastic laws |
as this 1 don't think that you need |
such drastic law. There ought to be |
some decent limitation. If you minis |
tiers want to contribute to the enjoy |
ment of your fellow man by providing |
for rest on the Sabbath day you should
dismiss your servants in the kitchen On |
Sunday
"Why I have seen people who lived |
and died Christians but who didn't |
think a hot Sunday dinner a necessity. |
The aim should be to give decent law |
to control the vicious and contribute |
to the enjoyment of the innocent"
Its the man who desires to sell who |
is asking the council to open up and |