The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-08-14
oUTRAGING PUBLIC
DECENCY.

general rule, this law is pretty
well observed in the city of st.
Paul. Now and then reckless
saloon-keeper takes a chance and,
usually, pays for his temerity.
But last Sunday, for some mys-
ferrous and inexplicable reason,
all the saloons in st. Paul were
wide open and, according to re-
ports, did thriving business,
especially in the downtown sec
ton. This was an act of lawless-
ness and an outrage against pub
lie decency and civic order which
good citizens q cannot tolerate.
Protests have been heard on all
sides against this fragrant viola
ton of the law and efforts are
being made to determine who
was responsible for it. It is hard
to believe that such a concerted
and open violation of the law
could have taken place without
the connivance of those in au-
thority. 1t seems very evident
that the saloon-keepers were told
that the open saloon would be
tolerated last Sunday, otherwise
the transgression of the law would
not have been so widespread as
it was. Someone in authority or,
at least, someone representing au-
thority in the eyes of the saloon
keepers, is responsible for the
wide-open policy of last Sunday
and should not be allowed to
escape merited punishment.
In this particular case Catholics
especially regret this open VIOLA
ton of the law regarding Sunday
closing. Most people will not fail
to connect it with the presence in
this city of a large and represen-
tative gathering of German Cath
olics in attendance at the conven-
ton Of the German Catholic Cen
trail Association. 1t is an insult
to this influential body Of German
citizens to suggest that the sa-
looms were allowed to open for
their benefit. The saloon-keepers
took advantage Of the occasion to
overstep the bounds of prudence,
believing, no doubt, that this des-
ecratiOn of the Sunday would, un-
der the circumstances, pass al
most unnoticed. This was an i'm
pudent and unwarranted assump-
ton and the guilty ones should be
taught a lesson. Unless very
definite assurance is given by
those in authority that such VIC
lation of the Sunday closing law
will never again occur in this
city, Catholic conventions of all
kinds will be warned to stay away
from st. Paul and to choose some
other city as a meeting place.
Last Sundays infraction of the
law on the part of saloon keepers
will prove more disastrous to
them than to anyone else. The
saloons will pay dearly for this
outrage against law and order.
1t was a most foolish move on the
part of their proprietors and
argues a shortsightedness regard
ing their best interests which few
people would be inclined to be-
lieve possible if the evidence
were not so plain. This open
lawlessness on the part of the
saloon breathes defiance of public
opinion and shows an utter dis
regard for the wishes of the com
munity. 1t is precisely this way
Of acting on the part of the sa-
looms which is responsible, in
large measure, at least, for the
tidal wave of prohibition which
is sweeping over the United
States. The people of America
are thoroughly disguised with the
saloon and saloon-keepers and
| UICWCISs i uC OdIOOh UuSluCSS lc
carried on in defiance of the law
and thus makes enemies Of all
self-respecting people, whether
they be patrons of the saloon OF
not. The people of Minnesota
have shown very plainly their at
titude toward the legalized saloon
wherever they have been given an
opportunity to express their opin
ion at the ballot box. They have
driven the saloon and the evils
which have grown up around il
and with which it is ordinarily
associated from a large portion Of
this state and the end is not yet
If the day ever comes when the
Ilegalized saloon will be banisheC
from its present strongholds i
will have no one to blame but
itself. Violations of the law, like
that of last Sunday in this city
will do more to discredit the sa
loon and to drive it out of bust
&c., L l.