The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-01
4 LrquoRLEss PLAYGROUND.

time in ffty-four years enjoyed, or
tolerated, on Sunday, whichever 1t
was, drinkless day. This experience
by no means settles the question at is
sue between the pleasure seekers and
the government, but 1t does mark an
other interesting step In the progress
Of the proposed settlement, II II were
earlier In the season the Remaining
steps would be taken more quickly
but being near the close advances will
be made in more orderly and phil
osophic manner
It Is interesting TO observe that af-
ter all 1t was the pleasure caterers
themselves who placed the I'D on and
screwed 1t down. To be sure the gov
ernors threat hung over them like a
pail. but at the same time they could
have done a profitable and Indistnrb-
ed business had they ignored It. The
mayor had reached condition Of
mind where he counselled the saloon
and public resort keepers to shut
down In order to escape worse ex-
perience later on. but he did not
threaten them with the strong arm
of the law II they declined. In other
words, what won the day for the gov
eminent was not the government It.
self but the business shrewdness Of
the lawless They saw that to ny in
the face Of the new situation might
ultimately drive them out Of business
altogether or introduce business
methods which might squeeze out all
profit. They struck a truce, leaving
to time the consideration of more
militant methods Of resistance
The attitude Of the liquor interests
as stated by one of their number is to
say the least significant. It is this:
I'VE will appeal to the legislature
when 1t meets In January and have
high hopes of securing some sort OF
relief. We will work for the passa &c
OF local law which will put the
question squarely UP to the people OF
the city and county. We have beer
keeping open In the past rs result
of public sentiment which we believe
to be In our favor. II we are wrong
we are willing to abide by the decision
OF our own people The perman.
ent closing Of the saloons and hote
bars unquestionably would hurt tbs
| resort, and none of us wants to ses
4 that"
Just exactly how this legislative en-
terprise will work. out remains to b.
seen. There was a very powerful
sentiment back of the Legislation
which forbids the dissertation Of Sun
day in New Jersey, and 1t was abl
! to introduce a revolution in the habit
Of the state especially whore lawes
Fairgrounds were located 1t Is quit
possible that the general assembly o
New Jersey would consent to tn
adoption Of the Connecticut local op
ton law, but It Is not conceivable thu
even under such law any more OF
legal right to sell liquor on Sunda
would be obtained. The people Twin
In the towns Of the state of Connect
cut determine whether liquor shall b
sold within their borders or not, bu
those which decide in favor Of liquo
selling do not on that account &C
quire the power to suspend the law
with regard to Sunday selling. Thos
are general laws and are enforceabl
everywhere on that day Of the weel
Atlantic City would not be as secur
as 1t might think If local option 10,
was passed. 1t would still be With
the power of the governor to entorc
the laws in the manner he has sug
gested, II he has that power at al
It Is possible that the legislator
might agree to let each center G
population decide for itself, but a
that would involve the repeal Of tn
Bishops law 1t is not likely that
will.
In other words the final battle mu,
be fought between the public sent
ment of Atlantic City, which Is Ok
viously lawless, and the government
which Is sworn to enforce the law
Another governor than Mr.. Fort ma
regard his duty in less heroic ligh
in which case Atlantic City will re
turn to It's bad habits without fea
of punishment Should the issue t
referred to the people straight an
clear, and they should decide on tn
side Of law and order, which the
would be likely to do, especially ur
der the influence Of the existing NOR: