Norwich bulletin., 1911-03-24


 lawn. In ascd1 izIsses ,sltli the rlIa- Hons esaablEsile5 Tor Ts,fil1z uIsosa Ii- cense for inc aaic of iItoxicatinl ttSi < nors- ;sssl s z K 85S s
 Soc 8-sec tion 18Ss, ls70 377 1872 of the general statutes and all actS and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
 Bill for Sunday Hassbaii. '
 The bill of P. s. Eunningham of New Haven was to aalDW baseball gamess Mr. Cunningham spoke for this saving that baseball vas played It New Iia- ven on Sundays, the crowds were orr derly and such exhibitions should be legalized.
 The Fisher bill. safter he had heard it read, he said, was like his own, only it had the local option clause.
 Meitzer's Bill for Sports.
 The committee heard Represf ntative Meltzer of Bridgeport on his b1lL fo strike out of the present law the words which prevented sports. He argued that the state had the right to set apart a rest day in seven, but believed that that rest day should be the pres ent Sunday.
 F. s. Cunningham of New Haven favored the Fislser- bill, but later on, when an opinion had been given that under it professional baseball could not be played .on Sunday, MT. Cunningham withdrew his support.
 Bridgeport Wants Liberal Sunday.
 Senator Paddock of Bridgeport said that he was elected on the Sunday is- sue. and moreover was an advocate of local option on such a measure. He told of conditions on Sunday in his city. the great demand for sports on Sunday and emphasized the fact that ball games attract audiences of the best class of people. The sentiment of the city, he said, was for liberal Sun day.
 Mayor Dunn Favors Fisher Bill.
 Mayor Dunn Of Wil1irmantic entors- ed the Fisher bill as did Senator Me Neil. until Senator Judson asked whether or not he thought Sunday pro- fessional baseball could be played un- der that bill.
 MT. McNeil thought it could, but Mr. Judson did not
 Professional Baseball Barred.
 Mayor Fisher, appealed to, thought professional baseball was barred, but the interpretation of the bill in this re- spect would be with the courts oh the words "are as demanded by the gen. eral comfort and convenience of the community"
 Mayor Fisher said that amateur sports could be conducted, but as the words "gainful pursuits" were in the bill, the courts might hold tlrat profess sional baseball was a gainful pursuit
 Importance of Sunday Baseball.
 Senator McNeil was not willing to accept the Fisher bill and to Have the question of professional baseball left for court decision He believed that the question of Sunday ball was more important than the matter of a public utilities commission CT many other measures before the assembly.
 Mayor Fisher said he called himself essentially a religious man, anxious to preserve the quietude of the Sunday and yet liberalize it so as to give rec reation to the great many people whe need the day for physicial benefit He would not advocate a bill which was designed to break down the observance of t!ie day
 Would Not Drive People to Church.
 When asked why he had not restrict ed games to Sunday afternoons, he said that he would not fence i'll the liberty of the people in the belief that foy Sc doing they could be driven into the churches in the morning. People would not go to church out of despair ol lack of something else to do. The go ing to church was purely a voluntary matter.
 Objection to Professional Sports. F. G. Hill of New Haven, represent ing the Federation of Mems ChurcI Clubs, said he was present to oppose the Cunningham bill, which proposed to open the Sunday for iprofessiona 1 ball games. He had not expected tt be heard on the Fisher bill at this time The federation was in favor of a more liberal Sunday but it objected to am bill which would be interpreted to per. init professional sports. There would be no. opposition to amateur sports There was objection also to local op. l ton idea, because this would ereat. confusion. The matter of a Sunday law was distinct from that of an excise matter. He thought the Fisher bill hat much merit
 Turn Day Over to Connecticut League John O'Connell of Hamden expresse, the opinion that the Cunningham bil 1 would turn the day over to the Con necticut league.
 W. c Prentice of East Hartford, rep rcsentiEg the Hartford East associa- opposed to any change in the law tha would commercialize Sunday. Are We Being Europeanized? Dr. Douglas Mckenzie said it woul, be difficult to define amateur sport! and the limit of local option. Tn, question of Sunday ball playing in wolves the social morality of the state Are We, he asked, to legal1Ze neasure that will lead young men into spirit, especially professional sport? Ar. we going to Americanize those wht come from Eurone to live here, or ars they going to Europesnize us? Thi: question merits consideration. Rev. John G. Murray at the reques of Bishop Milan. who has in eharg, 400, GOO souls. said that the bishop wa. opposed to anything that will Hberaaiz, or commercialize Sunday. We fee it all important that people should ons day week turn their thoughts iron worldly things" said the clergy man sHT1ae question cannot be settled on { basis of local option It is not eyiden to me that a. majority of the people of Connecticut are in favor Of chang, in the law.
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