The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-28
State Senate Goes on Record as Fav0ring Sunday
 Amusements
BONNER'S MEASURE IS NARROWLY DEFEATED
Scene Tinged With Comedy and Drama Attends Debate on Bill to Prohibit Playing of Games
 on Sunday
Fly HUGH W. ROBERTS


 Montgomery. January :-.---tspeciai.)
 The senate went on record this after noon ns being of the opinion thnt the playing of tennis. golf. baseball and football on sunday was not n violation of that commandment which requires
 Christians to remember the Sabbath day to keep It holy.
 The debate on this subject was most spirited, and tho situation was one in which comedy and drama struggled con tinuously for mastery. The bill was originally introduced by Senator Bonner of Wilcox, and referred to the temper anee committee. That committed re- ported it adversely. This morning. Sen. ator Bonner, having given notice, moved to take the bill from the adverse call endar and put it on it's second reading. The motion was ultimately latd on the table by n vote of II to 10. ps During the progress of the debate, Sen ator Bonner In dramatic manner, re- peated the fourth commandment ana concluded his argument by presenting Senator Hartwel of Mobile, chief op- ponent of the bill, with a small testa- ment. He demanded an aye and nay vote and his demand was sustained.
 How Senate Voted The vote was as follows: For the bill: Bell, Bonner. Bulger Ellis, Elrod. Fal, Key. Miller Me Cain. Wallace-lo
 Against the bill; Denson, Hall, Hart well, Higgins, Hill, Horton. Jones, Judge, Kline. Lewis, LuslS Pride Weathers, Winkler-l,
 Not voting: Arlington. Brown. Burns, Cooper, Easterly Greene, Hollis Holmes. Lee, Milner. Price-n. | When the result was announced there
 was applause. The bill was considered
 by residents of Mobile and Montgomery
 highly important, inasmueh as tho play | ing ot baseball on Sunday is considered essential to the success of that sport in those cities. II is to be noted that while the bill was considered by it's au-
 thor s moral bill, and as such was re- ferreo to tho temperance committee, it did not receive the support of the prohi- bition senators a whole. Senator Dem | son, chairman of the temperance commit tee, as d matter of fact, opposed it's pas | sage.
 Bible Given Hartwell In opening the debate. Senator Bonner dec Jared that in the event he was sue | csssful in removing the measure from the e2vorse calendar, he would move lo amend fy adding motion pictures 10 thu !! type ef sports which he would exclude on the Sabbath. He declared in the be- ginning. also, that he had come from stock which had always stood literally on tho Biblical injunction that the Sab bath be kept holy. and he added that throughout period of 30 years his grandfather had not permitted the kltch- en stove to be heated on Sunday "I intend to vote against Sunday amusemcnts in order that those of my family who may succeed me here may never have cause to blush And all of yon remember that l will call for an aye and nay vote. We must conduct our selves so that we will not be ashamed for people to know those things which We do. say and think. Now, on retiring last night l tried to say from memory the foli th commandment. I was not cel- tain that l had repeated 1t correctly and Sc this morning secured a Testament. And here Is that Testament open in such manner that those who would read might do so. And in conclusion, I will put 1t in possession of the gentleman from Mobile. chief opponent of the bill.
 And then, just before taking his seat tho speaker repeated the commandment aud although in several minor instances he erred, his damatie effort was not en- tireiy spoiled
 Senator Hartwell, in making reply. re- minded the senator from Wilcox that IT people of today literally followed the directions of the Bible they would ob fCouttnuc.I an pnr~ Two,