The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1909-06-08

Paris, KY, June Z, 1909.
Mr.. ]. w. Bacon, President Paris Base
Ball Co., Paris. Ky.
Dear Sir--While the p laying Of base
ball on Sunday is. in itself, unobjection-
able, it has given rise to cond itions
which, as a public official, charged
with a duty to the people of Paris, |
cannot permit it to continue As | de-
sire to be perfectly frank with you,
and in order also that my position IN
the matter may not be misunderstood,
/ shall state my objections fully. They
are as follows:
l. The noise and confusion caused
by your patrons upon leaving the
grounds and while passing through the
town is very objectionable, and on last
Sunday, May 30, it was particularly
so, owing to the fact that the umpire
was, on that day, followed by a num-
Der of half-grOwn boys, creating
great deal of disturbance.
2. The crowds which cOngregate on
Main street, more particularly be-
tween Fourth and Fifth streets for
hours after the close of game on Sun
day evening, are a nuisance to 5Il who
are required to pass that way. Here
the game is discussed in every detail,
while the streets are INSTRUCTED and
the conversation interlarded with fire.
quent oaths, regardless of the fact that
ladies are constantly passing to and
| fro.
5. From all accounts, the occurrences
yesterday, on the ball grounds and
upon the street car were disgraceful
and a reflection upon the entire COM
munity. | would be false both to my
self and to the people whose represen-
tative | am, if l risked a recurrence
of such scenes.
4. The games on Sunday are the
means Of bringing into the city. large
numbers of people from the country
and from the surrounding towns, many
of these desiring liquor, and being I'M
able to obtain it at any of the saloons
in the city make their way to Clays-
vile for the purpose of obtaining it..
! As result, there is for several hours,
both before and after the games, a
constant stream of white men going 20
and from the "blind tigers" with
which CIaysviIe abounds. AS these
places are outside the corporate limits.
have no control over the conditions
there, but am unwilling to have their
business and their profits increased or
Sundays.
| have tried during my term Of office
as Mayor, to give the people Of this
city, quiet, decent and orderly Sun
day, and | may be pardoned for taking
a certain pride in the fact that have.
in a great measure, succeeded. Under
such circumstances. can hardly be ex-
pected to acquiesce in the continuance
of conditions, such as those set out
above. You may say. with truth, thai
you are not directly responsible fol-
such conditions, but you must admit
that the things that have mentioned
are the direct effects of Sunday bal
games. In dealing with an evil, il Is
much better to remove the cause thar
to enGeavor TIC regulate the effects
as when the first is removed, the la;.
ter ceases.
After a careful consideration Of the
question, moved only by a desire TO de
that which is best, feel compelled t.
prohibit the further playing of base
ball upon Sunday, and have instructed
the chief OF police to prevent any fur
Their games on that day. 1t is with eX
treme regret that | take such steps
but circumstances are such that have
no other alternative. Trusting thai
you may not be greatly Inconvenience
and again assuring you that my actor
is dictated only by sense of duty t
the people and for my oath Of Office,
am Very respectfully,
JAMES NJ O'BRIEN,
Mayor Of the City OF Paris.