Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-11
Puritan E,ther,, ideas.


Mayor Whitlock. in speaking OF the
statutes for closing Of saloons and
places of amusement on Sunday, says:
''The basis Of all this legislation was
the contention that the Sabbath should
be observed, and it's object was to en-
force the observance OF the Sabbath in
a certain way, devised by the Puritans.
brought by them to this country and
handed down to and impressed upon
their descendants.
"In any community composed OF peo-
pie among whom the Puritan Ideals
and traditions prevail the enforcement
of such statutes was easy, because
there was a general wish to observe
them, and the other tendency was an
exception: they represented the VIII
OF the people,; they were in conformity
with their customs ana habits and ems
ployment: they were, in a word. law.
"But America was not for the Puri-
tans or their descendants alone, It was
for all men, and there came here others.
of a different tradition, OF other, less
severe, and in some respects, mora
cheerful ideals. people Of different GUS
toms and habits and ways OF viewing
life. They wished to observe the Sao-
bath in a different manner
$50 here a first difficulty arose. A
second presents itself upon the appear
ance of another powerful factor
namely, the economic aspecr winch the
problem assumes. In dealing WITH
what are called moral problems we
are only beginning to take into con-
sideration the influence Of economic
conditions in determining human con-
luct.
"This mode Of observing the Sabbath
.nd tho statutes enacted to enforce 1t
found their rise in purely agricultural
communities. Men accustomed TO work
ont of doors all the week, coming at
last YEARLY to day of rest. were quite
ready and willing to spend that day IN
doors. For rest, primarily, is change
and men who have been out OF doors
all week find a change within doors.
Consequently the statutes relating 70
Sabbath observance were the mora
easily and readily accepted by the peo-
ple. because, aside from any consldera-
tions of religion Of piety, they were IN
conformity with their impulses, their
desires and their necessities.
TN the city, however, a different
state exists Here the conditions Or
employment are such that men, for the
most part, are indoors all the week.
and when the day Of rest comes they,
or at least those to whom it does come.
naturally as their country cousins went
indoors, seek recreation IN the open a!.
again, when We reflect upon ths
intensity Of the modern struggle for ex-
istence, the rigorous demands made
upon the vital forces Of men In the
economic conflict, the long hours Of toll
al
stores and factories, the nervous strain
the risk and danger in operating ma
chimes, it will be seen that some relaxa-
ton is necessary, and this fact, more )
than any other. explains the search for
amusement, the theater. the ball game
and all that. These things become a
necessity under the economic condi-s
lions of today.
1.-THE saloon, 1t is true. stands upon
somewhat different grounds, yet, whore
the resort to it can not be explained
on the ground OF real or fancied social
necessity, it being the only public place
where men may meet freely as equals
and enjoy each others society, It il
found to be due to the necessity OF
stimulation decreed by this same in
satiable machine, which. by exhausting
mems bodies in the mad greed for pro-.
fits, drives them to stimulants in an
impulsive effort to restore their wasted
forces and exhausted bodies.
And beyond all this, deeper. sadder.
more pathetic far than all this. 10 the
fact that thousands by societys grim
machine are driven to drink by pow
erty. quite as often as they are driven
to poverty by drink. Indeed, think
that Mr.. Tom l.. Johnson spoke the
truth when he said that there are more
people who drink because they are mis-
cradle than there are people who are
miserable because they drink"