The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-06

I clSc QOllS III Tic city next SunQdy
Saturday afternoon Mayor william
Green notified the proprietors o
amusement places that every man
woman and child employed in operat
ing these places would be arrested il
case that performances were at
| tempted on Sunday.
The ultimatum of the mayor hat
the desired effect and every house il
| the city remained closed The theatel
men and their friends were not idle by
| any means and during the day visited
between fifty and one hundred place.
| of business in the; city and made pur.
chaSes or caused labor to be per-
| formed by those in charge. This evil
| dence will be used in cases which will
be commenced at the instigation of the
theater owners unless they are per-
| mitted to open their play houses.
A meeting is called for o'clock this
| afternoon to which only those against
| whom evidence has been secured will
be admitted and tickets of admission
| have been sent to them. Just what
| the result of the meeting will be re-
mains to be seen. but it is said that
| theatrical managers will attempt to
align these forces with them against
| the Sunday closing proposition.
If they are successful a fight will
| be made against the decision of the
| supreme court handed down Friday.
| If not, it is understood that County At
torney John Schenck will be asked to
issue warrants for the arrest of the
business men and their employees who
violated the Sunday closing ordinances
yesterday. While the theater mana
gers insist that they will comply with
the ruling of the supreme court
they also say that all others must
comply with the Sunday closing ordi-
with the theatrical managers as COM
planning witnesses.
I'VE bear no animosity against
those of whom we have made pur-
chases and against whom warrants
will be sworn out" said Roy Craw-
ford, but we want to see this thing
probed to the bottom. If it is unlaw-
full to sell tickets and give theatrical
performances on Sunday because it
violates the Sunday labor ordinance.
we feel that it is just as much viola
ton of the law for a newspaper to be
printed on this day.
THE street car company, the tele-
phone exchanges, the druggists, cigar
stands and every other class of bust
ness which is operated on Sunday will
be included in the list of those against
whom warrants are to be issued. We
want to see this matter thoroughly
tested in the courts and carried to the
court of last resort and we feel that
all of those who labor on Sunday are
as much interested in the law as we
are and this is one of the features
which will be discussed at the meet
ing this afternoon
A delegation representing the theat-
rical men called upon Mayor Green
at his home Saturday afternoon and
stated their case by presenting the no.
tice which was published in the State
Journal Saturday and asking the may
or to stop the street. cars. the sale OF
newspapers, fruits. livery and the run
ming of local trains
We'll that is pretty strong, isn't IL!
oueried the mayor after he had read
the document What is the purpose
of presenting this affair to me at this
timer"
Mr.. Kearney. representative of the
Crawford interests explained that the
supreme court had decided against
Sunday theaters and asked what the
attitude of the. mayor would be on
the proposition
your representatives came to me year
or so ago, I agreed to friend
" suit to decide the case on its merits
and the understanding at that time was
that the decision of the supreme court
which ever way it went was to be
final. If the city had lost the matter
would have been dropped and 1t seems
to, me that it is up to you folks &c
stick to your agreement now that the
decision has gone against you.
LAT the meeting to winch you REFER
we were undecided as to the legahty
of the law and willing that friendly
test of it should be made but we did
not saw that we would abide by TINS
decision without further fight, said
d. B. Ledderman of the Elite theater.
LAS long as we have been found guilty
of violating this law we want to know
WHY Others who keep their places of
business open on Sunday are not equal
ly guilty.
I'VE propose to sift this matter 10
the bottom and want to know IL you
will have all places of business in To-
peka closed in accordance with this de-
cision of the supreme court. III we
are not Disseminated against we are
willing to abide by the decision but we
intend to see to il that everybody
closes If we are compelled to-"
We'll" replied Mayor Green, VIII
take this matter under Amusement and
will let YOU know later what / Will do
hut / am not crossing any bridges be-
fore I get to them" The interview
with the mayor was short and extreme
" unsatisfactory as far as the theat-
rical representatives were concerned
The result of the meeting which Will
he held late this afternoon will have
much to do with the action OF the tnes
atrical representatives. They claim
that If all lines of business are not sus-
pended on Sunday that wholesale ar
rests will follow.