The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-24
Declares that Working Men
Must Have Recreation on
the Sabbath Day.
EXPLAINS LIQUCR VOTES
,WAyNE,s REPRESENTATIVE SAYS
He STANDS FOR SALOON lEGiS-
IATION, BUT NOT THE PRES
ENT KIND.

Those who enjoy seeing Sunday
baseball game and those VINO nave
been advocating Sunday baseball in
Richmond, will receive with much sat
jsfaction the announcement from Rep-
resentative Walter Ratliff, that he VIII
vote for and use his influence for tne
passage of an act by the present gen.
eral assembly, legalizing baseball
throughout Indiana on Sunday after
moons between two and six o'clock.
Mr.. Ratliff said last night that he
had given the matter much thought
since the baseball bill was introduced,
in the lower house, and he is now will
ling to come out firmly in favor OF Sun
day amusement. Those who labor
six days "a week from early morning
till evening, need recreation on sun
day, and see no violation of religious
teachings in them attending ball
game on Sunday afternoon, IL the
game is surrounded by proper restric-
fions. The present bill / deem ad-
euuate, and / intend to work for it.
RatIiff Explained Votes.
His stand on the high license bill
Mr. Ratliff made plain last night he
gained considerable publicity by chang
ing his vote at a critical moment last
week, and Mr.. Ratliff said that he
feared his constituents might miscon-
strue his motives. He was one or put
a few against the blind tiger bill
which became a law and he voted FIJI
day for killing the high license bill.
In explanation of his stand he said.
"By the passage of the blind tiger bill
il became unlawful for druggists TO
sell LIQUOR and social clubs had to give
up their buffet feature. This piece OF
legislation has driven the young men
TO licensed bar rooms for their drinks
In the social clubs an important rule
was followed, in that no member was
allowed to treat In the saloon just
the opposite condition exists and a
Young man is not considered a good
fellow unless he buys drinks for the
crowd In the club rooms no drunk
enness was tolerated, while at the sa-
loon bar it is the rule to drink TO ex-
cess. / therefore thought it better to
retain the club room drinking with its
many restrictions.
Driving Out Low Dives.
s.Should the high license bill yet pass
its advocates contend that the low
dives will be driven out of business.
With this done. the frequenters OF
these places will be driven up town,
for they will not stop drinking Once
ND town they will be thrown in con-
tact with the better element and our
principal streets will be cursed with
numberless unkempt and worthless sa-
loon buns who would be disgrace to
any city. The young men, who had
been drinking to moderation Al clubs
and properly conducted saloons would
be thrown in contact with baser ele
ment and the result would be most de-
moralizing to society. It seems to
me. that by such legislation as the
blind tiger law. and the high license
bill. we would be working in direct op
position to the Y. NJ. C.. A. and such
forces which are working for young
mems betterment. Proper liquor leg
islation | favor, but not the kind that
has been before the legislature thus
far.
II don't think that the alleged ben
eft the teachers would have secured
from the legislation is to be consider
ed. In fact the active part the teach
ers of the state took in an effort u
force the legislation, jeopardized theil
chances OF getting certain needed laws
The high license bill. had it passed.
believe would have done the genera
cause of the teachers more harm thai
good There are legislators wht
then would have been openly antago
nistic to the teachers bills, who viii
now support them"