The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-02-25
MAYOR SAW A SHOW
MR.. MEYER VISITED ONE OF THE
THEATRES SUNDAY EVE.
Gives His Impression of the Pictures;
Said He Saw No Cigaret Smoking;
lie Has Had in Mind the Testing
Of the Law; to Consult With City
Attorney; Letter From the Min
listers
From Tuesdays Daily.

listers.
From Tuesdays Daily.
Tie followings is copy of letter
sent by ministers club to Mayor A. q.
Meyer:
"NIankato, Mimi, Feb. 81, 1910
Hon a. G.. Meyer, Mankato, MIMI,
Ny Dear Mr.. Meyer: As acting seere-
tarv of the AIankato Ministers club
at its session this morning it is my
duty to transmit to you the following
resolution:
THAT, as an association we respect
fully request the mayor to take any
opening Of theatres on the Sabbath
day, and that in case any of the
theatres are operated on The Sabbath,
he take the necessary steps to- secure
the arrest and trial of the guilty par.
ties
/ CAS- one or both of the moving pic
ture shows have been open for the
last two Sundays, we feel it necessary
to call this to your attention. The Min
listers club does not consider itself Il
law enforcement league, but as a group.
of citizens it is our right and our duty
to take up fragrant violations of law.
apart from the question of whether
moving picture shows are worse on
Sundays than on week days, we object
to the opening Of these theatres on the
Of hoi, wiz Of IN
law and an opening wedge for Sun
day labor OF all sorts. The state law,
in the interest of the workingman
and for the sake of society as whole,
forbids unnecessary Sunday labor. We
believe in law enforcement and must
insist, as far as in our power, that a
day OF rest be guaranteed to ali the
people. In the same spirit the Sunday
closing law should be enforced all along
the line. Very sincerely yours, Edgar
L. Heermance."
Up 10 a late hour this afternoon
Mayor Meyer had not received the let
ter but read the copy that had been
received by The Free Press.
| Visited One Of the Shows.
Mayor Meyer was interviewed this aft
ernoon in regard to the communication
and he made this statement: 81 visi-
ted one of the moving picture shows
on Sunday evening for the purpose of
satisfying myself as to the character
of the performance. | was well pleased
with what | saw. Personally, I am
not opposed to the shows. They are
clean and of moral character. Each
picture is an object lesson and the edu-
cational features should not be lost
sight of. Many of the pictures are bet
ter than some sermons that are preach
ed. More good can be obtained from
them than from some lengthy dis
courses that are preached, and in say
ing this / do not mean any discour-
tesy TO the ministers Of the gospel,
for whom / have the greatest respect,
but there are time, think, when they
are mistaken in judgment"
No Cigaret Smoking.
81 had been informed by ono OF
the ministers that cigaret smoking was
allowed in the theatre. | saw nothing
of the kind at the theatre Sunday
evining. The audience was made up
OF ladies and gentlemen, was very or
derby and all were intensely inter
ested in the pictures, which 70 me,
were highly instructive
Will Test the Law.
"However. there has been a question
as to whether the law relative to shows
covers picture shows. / understand
that Judge Kingsley Of the Austin dis
trict court holds that it does not. I
shall consult with the City Attorney
Sehmitt in regard to having the law
tried out. This is matter i have
had in mind for some days. If the
law permits the picture shows to run,
they will run, if not they will be
closed. That is my position on this
mater, and l wish The Free Press
would give it Notwithstanding my
visit to the show and my opinion OF
the performance"
What Manager Said:
Manager Chamberlain of the Unique
theatre stated this afternoon that he
had been advised by his attorney that
the operation of the theatre on Sunday
is not violation Of law 81 expect
that the Unique will be open next
Sunday" remarked Mr.. Chamberlain.