Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-05-22
sunday LAW
is ENFORCED
No Areste Made and No Trouble
Reported.
PEOPLE PREPARED.
Much Talked About Blue Sunday
Works But Little Hardship.

The much heralded blue Sunday ar.
rived and departed without any spec
tacular events Fortunately, the orders
to put the lid on came early in the
week giving plenty of time for serious
consideration before inflicting on the
people such a strict enforcement as the
word first sent out indicated. Prepar.
edness was reality in Annapolis, so
much publicity having been given the
matter that practically everyone bought
their necessities on Saturday.
Milk and ice were delivered as usual
in most eases, but at least one milk
dealer did not serve his customers. al.
though he had a right to do so. lee
cream bought on Saturday was deliver.
ed. as were the newspapers, but papers
were not sold on the streets, which pre-
vented a long tolerated nuisance of the
crying out of the newsies. which should
be satisfactory to ALL Autoists were
able to secure gasoline where il was
necessary In fact, Judgment was used
throughout which is all that the Grand
Jury, the Mayor, the sheriff. or tho
people themselves desire. Too much al
verse publicity has already been given
Annapolis by out-of town papers From
this and the spcaeh of individuals comes
the real harm to the city so much talk
ed about.
The real purpose has been served, the
wide-open stores which sold merchan
disc of any description were closed, and
We hope closed 60 stay.
There is no reason why the enforce
ment of the law as regards the sale of
tobacco should work hardship, so long
as everyone received plenty of notice.
As to the sale of necessary drugs. while
the different drug stores yesterday re-
fused TO sell anything except prescrip-
tlons, the law does not intend to stop
the sale of necessities, and it is doubt
tul if any dealer would have been ar
rested for making the sale, and much
less that he would be convicted if he
were brought to trial The interpreta
tion of the law is made by our Judges
Ii is not intended to work hardship
or TO prevent the necessities from being
sold. IL is-to be mourned that the law
was not repealed, as suggested by Dele.
gate Conrad Herpich, of Allegany coun.
ty, at the last General Assembly. Be
cause there was fanatical element in
opposition the measure was not permit
ted to survive, even as a two-county af.
fair, involving Anne Arundel and Ale
gany.
However, it will now be two years
before another Assembly, when the law
may be repealed. In the meantime. il
is hoped there will be sensible inter.
probation of the law.
No arrests were made yesterday and
only one or two warnings given. State
ments that there were fewer automobile
parties coming to Annapolis are untrue,
as by actual count 900 automobiles
came into Annapolis over the Baltimore
Boulevard The citizens of Annapolis
resent the adverse criticism and mis-
leading statements published by out-of
town papers.
Sheriff Sullivan today reiterated his
statement given last night to the Bal
timore Americans:
speaking as an individual and not
as county official, | regard the blue
law as hardship on the people of An
napolis | have learned today that it is
being considered too literally and there
is not sufficient common sense used
Primarily I blame this on the mer-
chants themselves The law was pub
liShed in the newspapers and was read
with much disgust by the merchants
These men, it may be said to their
credit are complying with almost every
provision except that affecting the sale
of milk and ice. | do not believe that
they should do this 1t is my opinion
that they should be guided by their own
Judgment to act in some cases Hence
see nothing criminal nor sacriligious in
the sale of innocent candies, sodas, and
especially tobacco
Some time ago | was on commit
tee which asked Secretary Daniels to
send battleships here for certain per
iod. lie complied. l went aboard those
ships and found nearly every sailor a
user of tobacco. Picture those young
men today without the weed. l know
Nhat ~ - uiN SelA. Woulu not nlamc
Mr.. Daniels were he to order all ships
to steer clear of this place.
That suggests another angle. / can
foresec now that Annapolis will suffer
heavily from this sort of advertising.
It viii keep all visitors away who
would spend money here. and win put
crimp in whatever booming project
may be attempted in the future Still.
l m a tool in the hands of the law and
have to do my duty.
Deputy Grafton Boone was sent to
Curtis Bay and says today that state
ments made that there were saloons in
that territory wide open are untrue. He
was on the Job all day and found every
thing tight. with the exception of one
place. where three negroes We're found
drinking beer. The men claimed to be
boarders at the place and it was i'm.
possible to secure enough evidence to
make a case.
A snlendid EIGHT reel show MT 70.