The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-08-23
the SUNDAY LAW
TO BE REPEALED
Attempt to be Made in Spe-
CiaI Session of Council
Tonight.

Last Sunday was an ideal Sunday in
Paatka for that portion of the commu
nifty who believe in Puritan.l like OBJ,
Servance of the day. Every ice cream
and cold drink stand was closed. Ii was
day of rest and recreation for every
body. The law was obeyed TO the let.
| ter.
AS was predicted by the News the
mayor was severely criticized in certain
quarters. If he was commended in
others there was no display of the fact.
OF those who criticized him for his
order enforcing the law, large number
were free TO admit that under the cir
cumStanceS he was justified in his ac-
iion.
Ever since ii became known that
Mayor Warren intended TO enforce the
Sunday law, members of the council
| have been discussing measures for its
repeal. That has been the talk of the
street.
Last night Alderman Henry M. Fearn-
side, who is a diplomat as well as a
Chesterfield, and who is the chairman
of the ordinance committee of the
council, introduced substitute for the
present Sunday law. Mr.. Fearnside, in
preliminary statement, paid the mayor
a compliment which sent the rose red
blood corpuScleS tumbling over each
other as they mounted his honor'S cheeks
and DER spread them with bushes.
That was Fearnside the diplomat.
The following is the substitute ordi-
nance as presented by Mr.. FearnSide:
"Sec. s. Any person who shall
break the Sabbath mark the word day
by engaging in boisterous or SacreligiouS
conduct, disturbing the peace and quiet
of the Sabbath mark il again shall be
fined not exceeding one hundred dol
lars or imprisonment not exceeding six
ty days at the discretion of the munich
pal Judge. Nothing herein contained
shall be so construed as TO allow any
business, individual, firm or corpora
ton 10 open their places OF business for
promisCouS selling of merchandise, or
for giving any kind of amusement, other
than drug stores, restaurants ConfeC-
tionery and soft drink stores, fruit stands
and news stands. Hours of closing shall
be restricted 10 six O'Clock p. M"
Immediately after the reading of this
substitute one of the counCimen moved
onded the motion Aid. Haughton who
was in the chair ruled, however that or
dinances were not passed in that way.
That the proper thing would be TO refer
the matter to the ordinance committee
and the city attorney, which was finally
done, their findings TO be laid before the
council in special session onight.
City Attorney Calhoun stated that he
would draw an ordinance which would
fill the bill.
Aid FearnSide told the News that his
substitute was only introduced in order
TO get the matter before the council.
1t is likely that the council will pass
an ordinance tonight which will permit
Sunday opening. The News was mis-
taken last week. Ii said that an attempt
on the part of the council TO repeal the
law would bring on storm OF criticism
which would put all criticism of the
mayor in the deep shade.
But the News was off its bang There
wasn't single individual present at the
council meeting to oppose such repeal
There is no organized opposition 10
such repeal. Members of the Christian
churches 10 whom the News looked for
OppOSlllOn are apalHellC. MANY Ol llSHl
openly favor the repeal of this Sunday
law.
The only man who has expressed op.
position 10 the repeal is man who will
be practically foi1e4 TO oncn his doors
on Sunday, contrary 10 his WI, ',-~'-'Nr
loose his business.
The Paatka News is opposed 10 bust
ness houses opening on Sunday, (evcn
though it may stand alone in its opposi
tion) for the reasons that
II is against the law of the State.
1t is against the LAW OF GOD.
Independent of its religious aspects
this law should be observed in order
that the human machine under cover
of every mans skin can have one day
in seven for rest and repairs. The ma
chine inside an ice cream vendor needs
this rest just as much as the machine in
side a mouldcr
But the News is not in the reform
business; if the city council of Palatka
can find way 10 break the plain statute
OF the State of Florida, ii can crack il
without fulher opposition from this
paper.