El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-24
the


not the Sabbath: the first
consideration Of Sunday laws should be
humanity and not Sunday We there
fore have a right, taking the Bible Of
our christian neighbOrs as a basis, to
ask for the PRONUNCIATION of only such
laws as will create a better manhood,
better morally and physically. And
this cannot be done by creating day
Of idleness; this cannot be done by
imposing laws which are a detriment
instead of a benefit
If we take the foregoing as a proper
basis Tor Sunday regulations, what
kind of rules ought our legislature to
pass? egatively-there ought to be
no law passed that does not recOg-
nize the social problem involved in
Sunday observance. No law should be
passed that will make men idlers; no
law should be passed denying to the
individual the right to decide the best
diversion. What is work for me may
be diversion for the laboring man and
for the laboring man. No law should
be passed that does not consider the
physical as well as the moral nature
Of man. We must create sound bOlieS
If we would have sane minds We
must realize that everything forcing
the city man out Of doors, VIII make
him a better citizen Consumption, OF
which we see so much, is not caused
by outdoor living but indoor living. 1t
is the penalty we pay for industrial
progress
Do Not Interfere With Recreation.
And affirmatively-w should pass
only such laws as will uphold the
standard Of civilization we have
reached We need light in our houses,
we need heat in our homes, we need
warm meals and to obtain these some
one must labor. venture the
guess-sOme sire n u o US in their
demand for strict Sunday laws,
would refuse employment to a
cook demanding rest from Saturday
night to Monday morning. We should
only pass such laws as VIII deter the
man seeking undue advantage Of
seven-day week, but not interfere with
the man seeking recreation for him
slf and family.
see nothing wrong in a car ride and
a romp on the hills; I see nothing
wrong in the theater and the moving
pictures and baseball games; see
a great deal in their favor. We, on
the border, should look well to these
things. VIII We close these avenues
Of recreation and send our youths to
the gambling rooms, races and Sa-
looms on the other side2 We cannot
regulate affairs on the other side, why
not allow, aye, even encourage, sane
forms Of recreation on this side? Re
member the old adage, before the blind
do not place a stumbling block and
our boys and girls. our young men
and women, whose natures demand d.
version, viii find it one way or the
other. A popular magazine published
the confessions Of a Methodist min
ister's daughter and we should take
this confession to heart.
Law to Meet Conditions.
In conclusion, let me state that I
an opposed to the act now before the
legislature. an opposed to any law
that does not meet conditions. but tries
to create conditions. / am opposed to
any law not allowing cities to decide
what they deem best for Sunday eb-
servance or seeking to close every
avenue Of diversion The rural law
giver does not know the problems Of
the city and cannot prescribe for
them and the sooner the legal day Of
rest is made broad enough to instil
new vigor into the tired frame Of the
worker and not force him into mis-
chief through idIeness, the better.
And if may be allowed to again quote
from the New Testament, 1 would
quote, to those urging stricter Sunday
laws the words of Paul to the Romans,
who art thou that judges the serv-
ant of another2-One man esteemeth
one day above another; another es-
teemeth every day alike Let each man
be fully assured in his own mind"
(Romans XIV; 4-5).