Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1909-03-19

An agitation prevails just now, over
all the State for a better observance of
Sunday, as there seems to be growing
disposition on the part of many TO have
the day made wide open, in violation
of law and public feeling and interest.
There are now various bills before the
Legislature. being discussed in commit
tee, and no doubt some measure will
be enacted to meet the popular wish.
The keeping or observing of Sunday
is a very intricate question and difficult
to be regulated by any hard-and-fast
rules. The Constitution restricts le-
gislation to secular reasons and forbids
the use of law to regard anything reli-
gious or sacred in compelling the keep
ing Sunday As holiday. while protect
ing those who do so regard it from be-
ing interfered with in way that tends
to prevent them so doing. This is done
because it is the expressed desire of the
great majority of the people, who have
the right, under the Constitution, TO be
so protected. A small minority of the
people who claim the right to disregard
the observance of Sunday as a rest day
any more than any other day of the
week, cannot be allowed TO interfere
with the expressed demando OF the great
majority who do SO regard ii. Neither
can any few who may believe that some
other day than Sunday should be kept
as rest day for religious worship,
have any just right for so doing. The
consensus of opinion of the civilized
world is, that the cessation of labor
and rest of mind and body, one day in
seven, is essential for the we'll being of
humanity.
Accepting that dictum as final, our
State has, by the expressed demand of
the reat majority of the electors-who
have right to make that demand
fixed upon the first day of the week,
called Sunday, as the legal Day of Rest
for the entire people of the State.
Now the question is, What laws shall
be enacted TO secure to the people, in
letter and spirit, what they have de-
manded?
Last Wednesday Representative Nc
kachnie, of this city, invited a few of
our citizens to a private meeting TO
consult with them as to their wishes
in regard To the proposed legislation on
keeping Sunday, that he might get an
intelligent clew OF such desires to use
when called upon TO vote.
The small number present were not
united in opinion--some demanded a
more liberal law, so that ice cream, So
da, candy, and cigars could be sold as
we'll as newspapers.
Father Van den Mort favored the
strict observance of the Sunday laws,
or else we shall soon have as open a
Sunday as in Europe. Rev Mr.. Stub
bert was in accord with the views eN-
pressed by Rev. FIR. Van den MORT.
Richard German, George +. Dresser
and L.. II. Fuller favored IA more liber-
al Sunday law. Mr.. Dresser said, in
regard to his business as druggist that
he did not believe in extreme restrie-
ton or too broad privileges and thought
some concessions should be made on
Sunday liberties.
After an animated debate, vote was
taken, and indicated desire for IA more
liberal Sunday law.
Representative Nick achnie said no.
thing himself, but If he follows the
clews given him at his meeting, he will
favor more liberal Sunday laws-and
he may not.
On Monday evening meeting was
held in the chapel of the Congregation.
al church, after due public notice had
been given, to talk over the proposed
changes in the sunday law.
1t was found on comparing notes,
that only few of those present had
received invitations to the meeting on
Saturday 10 discuss the coming sun
day keeping legisl alton.
The meeting was harmonious in re-
gard 10 Sunday observance legislation.
After number present had spoken IN
favor of retaining the present sunday
laws, the following resolution was sub
mitted and adopted;
Resolved, That we hereby express
our satisfaction with the present sun
day law, except the provision OF chap !
ter ls9 of acts of 1907, and that we are |
strongly opposed TO the bill before The
Legislature, known as the Parker bill, |
and all other bills changing the Sunday !
law, and We request our Representa- |
tives 10 do their utmost 10 carry out i
these sentiments
Without more discussion Judge Il.
NJ. Warner and +. NJ. Wheaton were |
appointed to appear before the Judicial
ry committee Wednesday and present
the above resolution and speak in be- |
half of the same.
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