Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-14
JACKSON To TAKE
OPEN SABBATH
WAR TOCOURT
viii Ignore Mason, Beavers
and Mayor if Movies or
Sports Are Opened.

Marion Jackson. vice chairman Of the
Men and Religion Forward Movement,
today declared that moving picture
houses. professional baseball or kin
dreo sports would never be operated in
Atlanta, II the courts Of the county and
state could be forced TO intercede.
we will sue out writ Of mandamus
against Beavers. Woodward and the
police board or we VIII suo out a writ
Of Injunction against the picture house
proprietors or baseball park owners,
compelling them to obey the city ordi-
nances and the state statutes" declared
Mr.. Jackson when seen at his office.
Personalities in this fight are for
rotten. have no interest In Carlos
Mason OF the mayor What they NAV
DO or say Is beside the question. This
Sc merely a question Of law. City or
dinance section ITS, revised code Of
1910. makes II an offense for certnin |
amusements to be carried on upon the |
Sabbath. Upon this ordinance. backed |
by the state law. we stand.
Ain, TO Protect Minority.
"our attitude is that Of the disin-
terestsd bystander. our whole aim is
20 protect tho minority in whose favor
such laws ss I have just cited are
moided.
I'VE Will not stand for a CONNER
ois1ized Sabbath here. That is settled
once and for all. What the individual
may do on a Sabbath day does not in
tsrest us What the citizens Of At
isnta as body do does interest us.
II one man wishes 70 spend the Sab
bath away from the church II Is his
own business,
'The crowds from outside OF the city
that. no doubt, would be drawn here
by so-called liberal Sunday would
IN no measure compensate those per
sons called upon to toll on that Sab
bath for other people. No one should
be called upon to work on the first day
Of the week Scientifically and God
given, this fact is paramount.
"our stand is purely one Of law and
order We do not propose to stand by
and see the city ordinances violated.
That's an end to that part Of this dis
cussion.
Let Them Repeal Laws"
IF the people Of Atlanta wish a more
liberal Sunday, there is way 10 obtain
a. 90 TO your city council compel
them TO repeal the ordinance ! have
quoted 60 to the Legislature and com
pel them to vacate the statute cover
ing the subject. Then have an open
Sunday.
But as long as the law stands on
the books as a law II must he en-
forced. I DO not believe in dead let
tar laws. There are no such things
An the statute books II law is bad,
wipe It out-don't attempt evasion.
I'VE shan divorce this question from
iudividuaIiEm We will not souabble
with Mason, Beavers or Woodward
That Is shooting at too small game,
we shall take the matter directly into
court and there adjudicate IT.
we have absolute right to ask en-
Increment Of the laws now provided
against Sunday amusements OF the
character suggested by Mason and
woodward, and so long as we have
that right we shall exercise II to the
last letter Of such laws.
mayor Can Not NuIIify Law"
'Should these picture houses and
bail parks attempt to operate we will
act at once. Mayor Woodward's sig
mature to permission to operate means
nothing He can not give permission
ITO evade q Law. IT'S ridiculous. The
chief Of police can not excuse inaction
on any order OF his superiors nor can
Nhe police board exercise the rights
OF Judge and jury or take a coDstitu-
&ional courts attitude and say this law
or mat is outside Of the pale
Upon this fact we are standing.
Upon this stand we VIII fight to the
last ditch
From a purely personal standpoint
Che question does not resolve itself in
20 a liberal or tight Sabbath, So
long "a I live I shall probably answer
She dictates Of my own conscience IN
The matter Of how ! spend the Sab
bath Let every man do the same
But so long as the law surrounds
certain things and says that certain
things are taoooed on the Lords day.
. law. When II IS repealed-weu, that
A.