The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-12-11
wednesdny, December II, 1907.
TEE NEW BRITAIN CASE.

IE E NEW 0A1L@A4N NA0Es
 A further examination into the facts surrounding the enforcement of the Sunday observance laws in the city of New Britain presents additional reasons for regretting the manner in which the crusade was begun there and else where, and for encouraging an intel ligent study of the problem involved. It is becoming more and more evident each day, and as the cases multiply in which the mistaken method of re- form is employed, that the longer such an adjustment of the people, as they live and have their being in this day and generation, to their environment on Sunday is delayed, the worse will be the consequences from the stand point of society. It is time the practical judgment of self-respecting men was employed,
 It will be recalled that there are fea- tures Of the New Britain case which differ from those presented, for exam ple, in the New York case There had been no previous appeal to the courts by people who were shocked at the non-enforcement of the laws, though the mayor and his immediate advisers had for a long time been concerned with the problem of Sunday ob- Eervance from the loftiest motives and not for the purpose of currying favor among the voters. The attitude of the city attorney was suddenly determined like statement of the acts forbidden under the laws upon the first day of the week. It was warning to those who knew they were violating the law in. some one of the many possible ways suggested -to quit or pe prepared for the consequences. It was, too. warn ing which carried as much of sur- prise to the mayor and his advisers as to the people at large. It suddenly and in the judgment of the city officials gave the problem a twist which could not fail to work harm to all concern ed. without due provocation, It has been asserted that the city attorney, MT. Mitchell, who inaugurated the campaign, is neither religious en- thusiast nor crank, but public off1- cial who takes his duties seriously. The attitude of the mayor has been called into question as a lawless citizen be- cause he attended performance at one of the local theatres in which an entertainment was being given in vio- lation of the law from the city attor- ney's point of view, Since then it has been war of criminatlon and recrim- ination between the schief actors with the general public confused and con- founded at state of things it would never of itself have created.
 Some of the consequences of this sudden crusade should be mentioned in this connection in order that those who are studying the question of Sun day observance may the better under stand either the necessity of employine common sense in enforcing the laws as they are, or of agitating in favor oi the enactment of suitable laws by the General Assembly at the earliest pos. sible moment In the first place, the office of city attorney has been brought under uneasy question as to it's useful. ness, which is to be profoundly regret. ted The incumbent of any office owes 1t to an intelligent understanding ot his oath to protect it against miscon.
 truction and misinterpretatlon Int Earnestness of Mayor Landers, who i, one of the best executive officials that city has ever had, has been brought under suspicion at a tim, when he was doing all in his power together with the board of public safety and the corporation counsel tt eliminate from among the more i'm portant violations of the Sunday ob servance laws those which strike vio lently at the well-being of society. II view of the fact that it has been hi successful policy to get the uppe hand of the outlawed element befor passing to violators of a subordinat class, without bringing discredit upol the fair name of his city, it win b readily acknowledged by thinking peo rle that the position he is now bein, made to hold is not more unjust t Edim than it is unfortunate for tn community for which he has alread, adone so much. There may be littl danger of Mayor Landers weakenin in the task he has set himself, bu