The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-06-13
MR.. EARNEST'S
POSITION.

thaC IL the people really know the
purpose at heart of this organization,
the greater part of this opposition
would disappear. OF Course, we do
not expect to better conditions in Pa
latka without struggle, as there
was never a community that did not
have lawless element, either vicious
ly or unthoughtedly, and though many
that condemn us may not realize our
spoition now, they will later thank US
complished. 1t is not the desire of
the League or any member, to perse-
cute, or even prosecute, anyone; but
prosecution is incidental to the en-
forcement of law and we will insist
that the law be enforced. This posi-
ton, without question, is fundamental
ly right.
The League represents the churches
and many of our law-abiding citizens
who stand for the right. | am a
member of it because | know that it
is morally and legally right and /
would be traitor to my Maker as
well as to my position in the church
if | took any other stand. This
League has the right to ask the en-
forcement of law; so has any one in
dividual. No one has right to at
tempt to prevent this. If we were
trying to make laws, the question
might arise as to whether they would
be good or bad. But where we are
simply trying to enforce those laws
that have been already made, the on
ly question is, will any man further
or will he obstruct the prosecution of
crime in the enforcement of the law
| have been censured and criticised
for the stand | have taken and have
been accused of not living a consist
ent life. No one knows or realizes
his shortcomings more than |, and |
regret to know that part of my life
has been wasted and | would give any
thing to recall it; but l thank God
that | am now on the right side and
can truthfully say, without fear of
successful contradiction, that my life
since | have been in Palatka has been
right with God and man, and if any
one has heard or seen anything to the
contrary, will thank him to tell me
and | will prove it a falsehood, for !
have not knowingly done anything
that | am ashamed for God or man
to know.
When this store was opened for
business more than six years ago, we
made rule that when the doors were
closed on Saturday night, they would
stay closed until Monday morning,
except in case of sickness or death or
absolute necessity; and this rule has
been carried out. We are threatened
with loss of customers because of my
stand for right. | have never lost
anything yet by doing right and |
never saved dollar until l got right
myself. Of course, we want and ap-
preciate all the trade we can get, but
if there is anyone so narrow as to not
want to give me the same right to my
belief or way of thinking as they have
themselves, we feel that they have lost
more than we, and they have our SYM
pathy. would rather lose all my
trade than to sacrifice principle. Right
will prevail.
All this was brought on, apparent
ly, by one man openly defying the
law; and when arrested, he cries ''per-
secution." Why did not others in his
line open up? Because they knew
the law and respected it. The drug
stores refused to sell anything ex-
cept medicines, and while open for
this purpose alone, the Mayor took
the Chief of Police to two drug store
and arrested the druggists for not
closing their doors while filling pre-
Scriptions. This was done by the
Mayor in the enforcement of the or
dinance recently passed by the City
Council, which the Business Mems
Protective Association" wish so
strongly to uphold. The restaurants,
no doubt, thought they were eXcusa-
bic for selling cigars, etc, but when
they were summoned to court for it,
they did not defy the law by doing the
same thing again. This shows their
willingness to obey the law. But not
so with the prosecuted" man; he
comes out again, in open defiance
No one regrets this more than we.
Monday night, some 175 or 1870
men and boys, by count, out of a pop
ulation of over 5000, got together al
the court house for the purpose, as we
were told, to get together and smooth
over the differences. Something over
100 participated, but we were not
asked or consulted with as to VIA
we would be willing to do, and this
action was certainly not in accord
with a law-abiding community.
Nearly all, if not all, the states in
this great country of ours have praC-
tically the same Sunday laws; there
fore, the law must be right and prCp-
er; and if right, then they are not put
on the statute books for deceit and
sham, but to be respected. Laws are
not made for one man or one comm
nifty, but for the good of all. AnD
while we are. sure that we have a ma.
iority that is willing to abide by = {
| law, still, if there were only few OF
us we would feel that we have a righ1
to demand the enforcement of this
for the good of mankind, and We 39t
no other way than to let the law tax,
its course. 1t would be absurd to lie
everyone obey such laws as he wishe;
and disregard the others.
During the past year, we had clos
! ed town and no one suffered and prac
tically everyone was satisfied, and th
city got along nicely, and visitor
complimented us upon our good city
and we feel that we must prot2S
against going back to the old lawles
disregard of Sunday.
| have known many towns to pu
/ the ban on Sunday opening-some b.
the officials and some by private y.t
q irn,,r md | hnvn navnr hnnrh of q