The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-04-14
SUNDAY BASEBALL.

With all respect 1Or the D1lAloISio
association and a firm belief that It's
members are sincere and conscientious
in their labors for the material ana
spiritual betterment Of Richmond, new
ertheless, we feel that their resolutions
enbodying what they believe should
not be done on Sunday, are too theo-
retfcal, and can not be adjusted prac-
ticalIy to our modern life. The Minis
te1-s' association would have all meat
stores and grocery stores closed on
Sunday forgetful of the fact that there
are many people too poor to even az
ford ice, who therefore must depend
upon meat stores that are open on
Sunday to obtain fresh meat. 1t would
also, close the cigar stores. Now our
observation has led us to believe that
there is no harm done in cigar store
being open on Sunday. Cigar stores
that run pool rooms in connection do
not have the latter in operation on the
Sabbath and simply afford a conven-
tent congregating place. But where
we take issue most sharply with the
resolution of the Ministers associa-
ton is in it's professed determination
to abolish Sunday base ball. To our
mind no greater mistake could be
made The games that are played in
Richmond each Sunday during the base
ball season, are the means Of keeping
from fifteen hundred to two thousand
men in their home city who would
otherwise be viewing a baseball game
in some city miles from here. Con
sidered sordidly, this would mean that
several thousand dollars would be TAX
en- out of our city each week and spent
where 1t would never return. In going
away from Richmond these men often
times spend a great deal more than
they can afford and bring real hard
ship upon themselves and their fami-
lies by their thoughtlessness. In the
larger cities to which they would go,
they would find no lid clamped down
tight, and could buy all the intoxicat-
ing liquors they wished to. With the
game on in Richmond. however, and
the Gid" on also, they do not have the
opportunity to spend much money. A
dime for car fare to and from the base
ball park, twenty-five cents for score
card and may be five or ten cents for
peanuts, is the extent of expenses for
an afternoons enjoyment at the local
ball park. Best of all, however, two
thousand men are out in Gods own
sunshine and pure air for an entire af-
ternoon, their minds diverted from all
cares and worries. watching two mines
expertly and scientifically try to best
one another. Nothing to appeal to
their baser natures and everything to
bring out their highest. No rowdy-
ism, but close attention to good, clean
sport. The Ministers association has
suggested that half holiday be Civ
en- each Saturday afternoon by our
merchants and manufacturers. The
manufacturers could possibly do so,
but the merchants sould not without
great loss. Practically one-third the
business done by the local merchants
each week IS done from Saturday at
noon to the closing hour Saturday
night. Lifelong custom has ingram
ed this style of trading into the people
of Richmond and the surrounding
country. But even if the half holiday
were possible on Saturday that would
by no means settle the question of
smusements on Sunday. 1t would in
90 manner change the nature of the
day from what it is now. The necessi-
ty would still remain of providin e
some form of amusement and recrea-
ton for those of our citizens who de-
sire such things. And those of our
citizens who desire to witness outdoor
sports for their Sunday recreation have
right to do so. Furthermore, we
believe they can do so without losing
the fear of God from their hearts. for
20 our mind, God cares not so much
for the form in which he is worshipped
docs fc, hn i-i}