Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-05-07
Mr.. KILL-JoV. LATE OF PENsA
COLA VISITS GAINESVILLE.

The ghost OF the late-dead Van
Peltiau Absurdity has risen from Ga
Pensacola tomb and descended upon
Gainesville. where Il g. posing o.
reyamped KlllJoy Gainesville has
a mayor who has been bitten D. the
Ulue-Iav bacillus and the resulting
disease is working itself out OF his
system. Last Sabbath. h. placed the
Tan upon the ordinary. recreatiops
and refreshments of n free and en-
liphtened people and turned the us
.uauy attractive town into a dull. dead
village. peopled for the nonce by
l'ugfaced sufferers vho spoke Tut
smiled not
The Tribune has always been az a
loss 20 account for the mental pro
cesses Of two types % so-callod re-
formers the fellows who put these
harsh and impossible laws on the
statute-books and the fellows who at.
.toupt. al great intervals. TO enforce
them.
There may be some excuse for the
former. because they were Of a past
era. when Il was often considered
yirtuOus TO be as miserable as one
could. when the great and all-pervad-
ing religion Of happiness had not gain
ed sway But for the latter. modern.
Twentieth Century Americans. who
must recognize the fact that no day
is too good 10 be happy. for these fel-
lows 20 occasionally develop into Ia
natics and say TO the people. This
day thou shalt not paTtake OF soda
pop. or peruse the newspaper. or buy
the rolled weed or the coifin-tack. or
seek the fresh air via the trolley"
always impressed The Tribune as
good grounds for instituting prelimi-
nary proceedings tending Chatta-
hOocheeward
The gainesville attack will. OF
course. be Of brief duration, serving
only TO increase the disregard OF law
and authOrity-for law can be en-
forced in this country only when IL
is approved by the majority OF the
good people Il affects.
There ought 20 be some safe.
strong. hOspital-llke place for the i'm
mediate confinement OF mayors and
sherihs who betray symptoms OF in
lection by this pestiferous bacillus.
where they could be subjected 20
proper treatment before their dis
ease menaces the public.-Tampa
Tribune.
The above may be applicable 20
authorities in some cities where dras-
tic measures are brought into play
for enforcement OF radical reforms
and The Sun feels gratified that It's
esteemed contemporary takes such
interest in our welfare. but We assure
The Tribune that % Is not the intcn.
ton OF Mayor Davis 90 force upon
the people Of Gainesville a harsh or
unjust condition Of Sunday observ.
ance. or any other measure that
would prove unpopular and work a.
"a detriment 90 the city.
The fact Is. the city ordinance gov
ernlng Sabbath observance has not
been rigidly enforced for a number Of
years. consequently many citizens
were not acquainted with is pro
visions. but In response 90 complaints
that commorcialism was assuming
proportions calculated 90 desocra'c
the day Mayor Davis pursued the
only courSc lcit to him-a more strict cu-
forcemeut 81 the ordinance. ln this De-
j. not deserving ~ crusgr', a, the '"'. D.
az Gaincs, illc 30 MT sanction a "vi!r-
oprn" towr.
There T. no doubt, however, that rigid
enforcement Of present law will prov.
unpopular. especially since Il makes
no provision for the opening OF druc
stores on Sunday. but the remedy o.
vested In the City Council and this
body will meet tonight for the pur
pose Of considering an ordinance
which. Il Is thought, will prove ac.
/ Ceptable 90 all
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