The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-11-07
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER :, 1912
Keep the Day Holy


during the past few years to speak
a word of appeal for the proper OBJ
servance of our New England Sab
baths, and we have been gratified 10
find a hearty response to that appeal
from the leading citizens of our COM
munity. They have felt as we have
felt that anything tending to turn the
day into one of merry making or one
of commercial interests was to be op-
posed vigorously and persistently.
We are not yet ready here in Maine
at least, for the type of Sunday de-
scribed above which is common
enough in other countries; but it is
pretty apparent that eternal vigilance
and everlasting opposition is the
price to be paid for the quiet Sunday
and the day of rest.
Here comes an appeal or petition,
or a one-man trumped up request that
here in Skowhegan our municipal
building be given over for political
rallies on Sunday afternoons. Having
opposed requests of like tendencies
heretofore we oppose them now. III
opposing them now we urge the citi-
Gems of Skowhegan to see to it that
at the forthcoming town meeting a
dignified and positive stand be taken
against the move to turn the day in
to a political rallying time for the
qualification of some one who sits up
o'nights thinking out schemes to in,
lure the good name of the town.
Are we hitting? Well, let the hits
hit; they may do someone some good
IL that someone has not lost all the
red blood that is supposed to keep
one in good mental condition. Mind,
We are not hitting at the political
party in whose name the request Is
being made of our citizens; we are
hitting back behind the party at the
someone who is misdirecting and mis-
leading the good men who make up
that party. Our position on this ques-
ton would be the same were it the
Republican or Democratic party that
we're asking for the privilege.
We had thought at first to argue
the proposition, but on second thought
we pass over the arguments against
opening the municipal building on
Sundays to talk them out at some
other time in case there is need of
them. But the average citizen will
need no arguments whatever on this
proposition. 1t is simple matter of
common sense judgment. 1t Is a
simple question of whether the aver
age man in this community is willing
TO take away from the sacrednesS Of
the Sabbath day by turning 1t into
one for a discussion of questions
which already engage the attention of
the average man six days out of the
week, whether the average man wants
to keep the day as 1t was intended to
be kept, one for meditation, devotion,
and quiet.-one in marked contrast to
the other six.
The good Lord knows We are al
ready drifting too fast and furious
toward worldly things to vote unnec-
cessary destruction Of the real value
of the day. We hear in the six days
quite enough of politics and bust
ness and. secular things not to want +
TO keep somewhere near inviolate the
one day that remains.
We know how the people stand on /
this question. and we know what the
vote will be in advance. because we
know that the people of this town
are intelligent enough and far-seeins
enough to take proper action when
the test vote comes. But let the vote
he decisive,