The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-07
UP TO DRENNINC.
Ministerial Union Expects
Action Against Sunday Shows.
City Attorney Promises to
Bring Legal Proceedings.
WILL WAIT AND SEE.
Unless City Attorney Acts the
Union Will Start Fight.
Churches Go on Record Against
Sunday Shows.
WILL WAIT AND SEE.

The Ministerial Union at it's meeting
this morning decided to refer the oues-
ton of the closing Of Sunday theaters
directly to City Attorney Dreaming with
the request that he take immediate ac-
ton. In case that the city attorney
does not care to take the responsibility
of tho prosecution, the committee of
morals Of the union will present a reso-
luton to the city council asking that
body to instruct the city attorney to
at once proceed against the owners and
managers of all theaters keeping open
on Sunday.
The matter was introduced at the
meeting by Rev. Mr.. Holcomb of the
Lowman Hill Methodist church who
said: 1T was the intention of the com
mittee on morals to present a resolution
to this body asking them to endorse
their action In preparing a petition to
be presented to the city council this
| evening. 1 have had a talk with City
Attorney Dreaming about the matter
and 1 am led to believe that he will
commence action against theater own
| ers without such resolution being pre-
| sented to the city council and it seems
! to me the best thing to do at this time
J is for the committee to hold a further
| conference with Mr.. Dreaming and seq
| if this is the case.
This of course would obviate the pre-
pairing and presenting of such a petit
| ton to the council and 1t seems to me
! tndl tnlS is the ln1nS Tor us to do. Mr..
| Dreaming is of the opinion that the the
aters can be closed on the theory that
\ they are violating the statutes of the
| state by laboring and requiring labor
to be done on the Sabbath. If after the
| committee calls on Mr.. Dreaming they
| find that he does not care to assume the
responsibility for such action then there
will be time for the preparation of a
petition to the city council asking them
to take action. There can be no great
dGSeCra n
mind than that Of open theaters on
Sunday and none more dangerous to the
morals of a community.
The committee morals will call
upon the city attorney today and If
they find that he will not commence the
prosecution unless ordered to do so by
the council, will present petition at
the meeting this evening urging immedi-
ate action on the part of Mr.. Dreaming.
The fact that a resolution was not pre-
sented this morning does not indicate
that the Ministerial Union is receding
from the stand that they have taken
with reference to city closing, but rath-
er that they are more determined than
ever.
Churches Go On Record.
Following the action taken last week
by a number of churches and young
peoples societies aslwell as the Topeka
Federation. a number of other churches
and societies yesterday passed resolu-
lions against Sunday shows. The mat
ter was discussed at the meetings last
night in many of the churches of the
city and the action taken this evening
at the meeting of the city council will
be unanimous as far as the churches
are concerned.
At the First Baptist church last night
the following resolution which will be
presented to the mayor and city coun-
Gil was unanimously adopted:
Whereas, There are now several
places in our city where performances
are given solely for the amusement of
the patrons which give performances on
Sunday; and
whereas, We believe these Sunday
performances are detrimental to the
young people of our community, as
tending to lower their ideals and the tone |
of their morals, well as violating the |
spirit of the Sabbath day; therefore, be |
Resolved, That the Y. P. S. C. E. |
of the First Baptist church of Topeka |
Kan, do hereby request the mayor and |
take any steps necessary to control this |
evil and cause the theaters to close |
their doors and refrain from giving any |
theatrical or. other similar performances |
on Sunday. (Signed)
''W. E. IRELAND,
president.
HOWARD CAMPBELL,
''HELEN WILLIS,
"THEODOSIA CROOKS,
90 NJ. SHOWALTER,
&C M. ARMSTRONG,
Resolution Committee.
1.-THE above resolution Endorsed by the |
church body by unanimous vote at ev-
ening service.
"THOS. S. YOUNG.
Pastor First Baptist Church"
At the Potwin Presbyterian church
last night Rev. L. F. Madden stated
that he has always been opposed to
Sunday theaters and that he would wei
come a movement that would ultimately
result in their closing. Mr.. Smith Of |
the tax commission who was the speak
er of the evening, alsospoke in favor of
Sunday closing.
At the meeting of the Epworth League
at the First Methodist church the league
went on record as being opposed to
theaters and will cooperate
with the Ministerial Union and the CLUB
women of the city who have expressed
in favor of Sunday closing
as applied to theaters. If action is NOT
commenced by City Attor-
ney Dreaming the matter will come ON up
for a hearing in the city council this eV-
ening where the fight for the Sunday
closing of theaters will be led by Coun-
Gilman H. B. Howard, president OF the