The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-28
Mayor Billiard Assumes RespOn-
sibility for Move.
VOTE TWOTOTH THREE
Commissioners Bone and Tandy
Against Proposition.
Other Two Stand With Mayor
for Opening.

Topeka will have Sunday theaters.
In a statement given to the State
Journal this afternoon Mayor Billiard
said he was in favor of Sunday thea
ters and two other city commissioners
agree with him.
Furthermore, the mayor said he
would bring up the Sunday theater
ordinance before the board of city
commissioners this afternoon and II
necessary he would introduce the Or
dinance himself. And in support of
the mayor, Commissioner Miller and
Commissioner StottS declare they will
vote for it. Commissioner Tandy and
Commissioner Bone will vote against
it. This leaves the vote, three for
Sunday theaters and two against
them.
The mayor promises to bring up the
ordinance this afternoon-and two
other commissioners promise to sup
port it. This will be the first reading.
The ordinance will come up again
next week for the second reading.
Then it will be passed-and once more
the merry phonograph will screech on
Kansas avenue.
Mayor Billiard had this ordinance
prepared by City Attorney Ralston
wait until after all the city appoint
ments had been made and business
was in good running order before he
made it public.
This afternoon all city appointments
will have been completed. And sail
ing through with them will be the
theater question.
Mayor Billiard, Commissioner Stotts
and Commissioner Miller lay their
claim to Sunday theaters on two foun-
dations-the rights of the laboring
classes and the good of the city.
The laboring side, according to the
three commissioners is this: The Ia
boring people of Topeka-and there are
thousands of them-have no amusement
for Sunday. Sunday, it is said is their
only chance to take their families to
the theaters and the harmless places
of amusement. People who can afford
carriages and motor cars are not tied
down in this manner. Topeka should
furnish something for the satisfaction
of the laboring classes.
The good for Topeka" side, as sup
ported by the city officials: Travelling
men and transients claim they dodge
Topeka on Sundays. They claim the
town is dead on the one rest day be-
cause of the blue law on amusements.
Out of town people living near the city
don't enter the city limits on this day.
They prefer to stay out on the farm or
in the shade of the town postoffice to
talk of reciprocity and such.
Therefore Mayor Billiard and Com
missioner Stotts and Commissioner
Miller declare their stand is right and
Just.
w
proved on the first reading this after
noon is a repetition of the old Sunday
labor law with an amendment-this
amendment does not apply to people
managing, experimenting or selling
tickets or employed with theatrical
companies, houses, moving picture
shows, baseball games, or other inno-
cent amusements.
Mayor Billiards. Stand.
In speaking of his reasons for ap-
proving this ordinance Mayor Billiard
stated just before he entered the COM
mission meeting late this afternoon:
II have always favored Sunday thea
| ters-any amusement proper on week
days is proper on Sunday. Sunday
| theaters for one thing are a benefit to
! the laboring men-it is the only day
they have to go to the theater with
their families. For another thing, Sum
| day theaters benefit the city. Travel
| ing men and other transients must
| have some place to go on Sunday if
| they are expected to spend the day
| here.
'fTheaters are allowed in Vinewood
and baseball games are allowed outside
| the city limits. I see no reason why
they are not proper in the city limits.
Il was responsible for this ordinance
and I will stand by it,
| Commissioner Miller says:
'I think many people in Topeka now
/ are inconsistent. They approve of Sun
day baseball because it means a base
ball league team here and they favor
/ Vinewood but they are against Sunday
! theaters inside the city limits. Sunday
theaters are for people who wish to go
| to thenl-not for those who are opposed
to it. Every one should give and take.
| The people should be more broad
minded. AS a general rule the people
| who oppose Sunday theaters are the
ones who can afford to go driving and
| automobile riding on that day. I shall
vote for Sunday theaters.''
Tandy and Bone Opposed to Move.
Commissioner Bone:
'I will vote against this ordinance"
| Commissioner Tandy:
''This holler about theaters for the
| laboring classes is all bosh. l was a
hard working laboring man and 1 never
| had any trouble spending my money on
| week days. I had plenty of time to be
up town nights and enjoy myself. I
! think this talk about Sunday theaters
| is more for the purpose of getting
money out of the pockets of the labor
ing mcmillan helping them. 1 am
against the ordinance
| Commissioner Stotts:
''The way 1 have it figured out, %
per cent of the people in Topeka are
| against theaters. 25 per cent are indif-
| ferent and so per cent want them. With
this judgment I feel that I must vote
for the ordinance.
Il believe open Sunday amusements
| are good for the town and good for the
| people who have no chance to attend
these places on other days in the week
I believe in allowing the people to do
just as they wish as long as they don'c
| violate the laws or interfere with the
liberties of others.
| Z believe that there are hundreds of
out of town people who would come to
Topeka en- Sundays and enjoy them