The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-07-17
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Editor News:

Editor News:
The people of Hattiesburg and For.
rest county are more alive at this time
over the question of the enforcement
of the Sunday observance laws than
they have ever been before. And the
very laudable movement for the en-
forcement of these laws which has
been launched in a reasonable and
Christian-like way, is being met by the
DEVILS usual plausible argument.
Those who have no respect for the Sab
bath and advocate a wide open town
are trying to make it ridiculous. Not
that the law is ridiculous and absurd,
for it is not; but the sole purpose seems
to be to defeat any effort to enforce it.
have recently had quite number
of good people to ask me what l
thought about this movement; and in
all my public life have never permit
ted a question mark to stand over my
opinion on any subject that effected
the public good. have been criticized
for 1t. Some of my friends say it is a
fault. Others have even said that my
expressions in this matter means po-
litical suicide. If it does, will cheer
fully go down with my honest convic'
tons.
The law of Mississippi is very favor
able; it is very plain; there is really
no occasion for quibbling. No one can
misunderstood it. No good man can
be hurt by its enforcement. The two
sections of the Mississippi Code OF
1906, on the subject are as follows;
Sec. 1866 (291) Sabbath; Viola
lions of generally. If any person,
on the first day of the week, COM
monty called Sunday, shall him
self labor at his own or any other
trade, calling, or business, or shall
employ his apprentice or servant
in labor or other business, ex-
cept it be in the ordinary house
hold offices or daily necessity, or
other work of necessity or charity,
he shall, on conviction, be fined
not more than twenty dollars for
every offense, deeming every ap-
prentice or servant so employed
as constituting a distinct offense;
but nothing in this section shall
apply to labor on railroads or
steamboats,, telegraph or tele-
phone lines, street railways or
in the business of livery stable,
meat market or ice house.
Sec. 1867 1922 The same; 9TH
er than druggist not to open store,
etc. A merchant, shop-keeper, or
other person, shall not keep open
store, or dispose Of any wares or
merchandise, goods or chattles,
on Sunday, or sell or barter the
same; and every person so offend
ing shall, ON conviction, be fined
not more than twenty dollars for
every such offense; but this shall
not apply to apothecaries or drug
gists who may open their stores
for the sale of medicine.
Is there any room for doubt an
strained constructions in the languag
of those statutes? The laws are S
plain that the Supreme Court of tn
states has had but few occasions
construe their meaning. Still 20
hear some people speak of our Sabbat
laws as the Blue" laws; they are nc
Blue" not oppressive, but reasol
able, plain and good; made by goo
men for the protection of good cit
zens.
We are told by some who woul
misconstrue the law to defeat its pu
pose, that if the Sabbath law was Ell
forced. milk could not be sold or deli
cred on Sunday. But it has been hel
that "the delivery of milk on Sunda
is a work or necessity 90 ~
554 Topeka VS.. Hemp. So Kan. 32S.
By these same people we are to-
that the light plant must shut dow
at is unquestioned that water col
pany may supply water, and an ele
trio light company lights on Sunday
eye. 554. These same people arg'
that street cars and ice wagons mu
stop on Sunday. Surely the languat
of the statutes quoted above answe
, all these arguments, and leave the o
jectors to law enforcement wltho
any solid ground to stand upon.
D. G. McGiIvray.