The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-05-30
SUNDAY LAWS
TO BE ENFORCED
Nothing Will Be Sold Except Med
icine in Drug Stores, Beginning
Next Sunday.

No more iced drinks and hot drinks
and no more Sunday smokes will be
purchased on Sundays in the city of
Spartanburg, as the result of unami-
nous action on the part of the city
council at its regular meeting yes
terday afternoon. That body decided
to have the ordinance, with respect
to Sunday selling rigidly enforced,
and in doing so the mayor and the
officials do not expect to play any fa-
vorites. The law, which, by the way,
was passed April 13, 1908, is to the
effect that no merchant, storekeeper,
barbershop, fruit seller or confection-
er shall open their places of business
for the transaction of business on
any Sunday-from IL o'clock Satur-
day night until IL o'clock Sunday
night, The only exemption from the
scope of this sweeping ordinance is
the druggists, and the section relat-
ing to them specifically says they can
sell medicine only, as follows: "Pro-
vided, that nothing herein contained
shall prevent lincensed apothecaries
or druggists from opening their
stores on Sunday for the sale of med
icine only, or for filling prescriptions
from regular practicing physicians"
The penalty is a fine of not more
than $40, or Imprisonment of not
more than thirty days.
Trakas Petition
This action of the council came as
the result of request from N. S.
Trakas, who appeared before that
body with his attorney, Ralph X.
Carson, and stated that he had gone
to considerable expense in fitting up
a splendid ice cream and soft drink
establishment on East Main street,
and was compelled by the workings
of the municipal law to keep closed
on Sunday; that on Sundays his week
day customers would drop into drug
stores and there get iced drinks and
refreshments and cigars, and he re-
spectfully petitioncd council to either
grant him the privilege of selling
soft drinks and possibly cigars on
Sunday or else not discriminate.
Councils Deliberations.
When council deliberated on this
petition, after Mr.. Carson and Mr..
Trakas had withdrawn, Mayor John
son stated that he for one was op-
posed to any extension of the buying
and selling on Sunday. He would
rather close down on the druggists
who have soda founts and cigar
stands than give any extension to
this Sunday selling. He stated that
when he took the office of mayor the
law was on the books, but by tacit
consent it was passed over by the
drug men, and nobody had raised the
issue. He was strenously opposed to
any more business places Offering
goods for sale other than drugs.
Alderman Willard moved that Ira
kas either /. allowed to open his
ELITE" place on Sunday or that all
other places where drinks and cigars
can be purchased on the Sabbath day
be made to stop selling them. There
was no second, because the aldermen
began giving their opinions on the
subject at once land there was such
outspoken unanimity on the issue
that is, that either the drug stores
should be made to refrain from sell
ing other than medicine or that Ira
kas be allowed to operate on Sun
day, that Mayor johnson did not 90
through the formality of roll call
on the question. Clerk Carlisle read
the old ordinance, which had not been
enforced, and made brief, pertinent
comment to the council, as a private
citizen, to the effect that he hoped
no further extension or breach in the
ordinance would be allowed Mayor
johnson then announced with the
acquiesence of the council that old