Evening journal., 1909-11-19
MERCHANTS AND
THE BLUE LAWS"
Mercantile Association Wants
Sunday Crusade to be Against
All or, None
HINT AT ARREST OF
LAW AND ORDER MEN

To influence the Law and Order So
ciety either TO abandon its campaien
against small dealers or to bring about
general enforcement OF the Sunday
closing law so that II will affect ali
businesses and public service CORPORA
tions operating on Sunday, the Mer-
camille Association at an adjourned
meeting last night appointed a COM
mlttee OF three 70 wait upon the So
ciety before next Sunday. The com
mittee comprises John ]. Hayes. Fred
erick II. Steinle and Nathan Miller.
The purpose, OF course. is to make the
Sunday closing law so Objectionable
that II will arouse public displeasure
and speedy repeal or official disregard.
Held especially for discussion OF
the crusade, the meeting was marked
by vigorous expressions OF opposition
to the campaign. Many storekeepers
not members Of the association at
tended. Among these were BENJAMIN
+, Rawnsley, cigar dealer, and John
Govatoa, a confectioner. against whom
warrants for Sunday selling have been
Issued. Mr. GovatoB had not, however
been served last night. James G. O'Neal
president Of the association, presided
Those who spoke were Mr.. Rawnsley
Mr.. Govatos, George Fl. Litz. Frederick
Fl. Steinle, George B. Neef and Nathan
Miller. All we're emphatic in declar-
Ing the closing OF cigar and candy
stores and the disregard of large in
dustrles gravely unjust. Mr Govatos
saw no reason why restaurants and
drug stores should not be closed. His
assertion that an attorney had in
formed him that drug stores we're not
exempt from the Sunday closing law
caused not a little surprise
Mr.. Litz, who is a confectloner.
thought the society would be compell-
ed TO abandon Its crusade IN the face
Of public displeausure if it sought to
enforce the law against all Industries
operating on Sunday He character
lied the campaign a mere hobby"
and urged Wilmington to get away
from the influence OF the lower coun-
ties ana have the blue laws repealed
by the Legislature.
In viewing the many activities which
general and square dear enforcement
OF the law would affect. Mr. Steinle
expressed a belief that the Law and
Order Society itself was amenable to
the law, since II had employed de-
tectives on Sunday to gather evidence.
Asserting that tho Law and order
Society was pursuing the campaign
merely for monetary purposes, Mr..
Neef asserted that the very fact that
successive attorney generals had dis
regarded the law demonstrated their
recognition that public convenience was
above the law.
In discussing the arrests for Sun
day selling, Mr Miller caused much
surprise when he explained that the
buyer as well as the seller was pun
ishable under the Sunday selling Law.
His suggestion that action be taken
against the Law and Order Society's
detectives who had purchased on sun
day won general approval. No action
was taken last night, but interesting
developments in this direction may bo
looked for.
George II. Litz, Harry Kenyon,
George B. Neef. George Willis and Ben
jamln Rawnsley were made members
Of the association.
Consideration OF the proposed ban
quet OF the association was deferred
until the next regular meeting.