Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-07-15

ence with the game other than that
the arrangements for the game were
complete. He would not attempt to
forecast what might be done in the
interest of the club in case it is inter-
fered with by the authorities.
He gave out the organization of the
mana cement of the baseball enterprise
as follows: President, Thomas McDer-
mott; secretary, Albert Forni treas
urer, Samuel Walsh; manager, John
Ryan. Others interested Mr.. Forni
gave as Byron Morse, Theodore BOu-
lay and John DevIgney.
Rev. A. E. Stones Statement.
When asked for statement rela-
tive to the protest against Sunday
baseball, Rev. Albert E. Stone, new
pastor of the Baptist church, said Fri
day afternoon: The situation seems
to be that a number of people of the
taken against the playing of Sunday
baseball in Putnam. The movement
is neither sectarian nor denomination
al. We have no quarrel with those
who desire to play amateur ball, but
we are opposed to the commercializa-
ton of the Sabbath. We understand
that the effort to play Sunday base
ball in this city is chiefly in the in
teTeSt of a few men who are said to
have lost several hundreds of dollars
in an endeavOr to pOpularize week day
baseball in Putnam. We have been
told by a man who said he was ap-
preached for the use of his land that
this was the object Of the promoters.
I'VE have no personal attitude in
this matter. We do feel, however,
that we have the moral and legal
weight on our side and that the peace
fulness of the Sabbath will be en-
HANGED in Putnam if baseball is not
played here 1 trust that there will be
no personal feeling over the matter or
that those in favor of Sunday baseball
will go to extreme lengths, as has been
suggested, in their endeavor to cause
a difficult situation in the city on Sun
days"
Rev. Mr. Stone said he was not OPP
posed to baseball and would be pleased
to see the sport popularized here on
Saturdays, when he himself would find
pleasure in attending a good game.
He said that five petitions against
! Sunday baseball were being circulated
in town and that about 100 signatures
had been secured. Rev. Mr.. Stone
canVassed the business section for sig
natures. In relating his experiences
he says he found business men who,
from moral standpoint, were opposed
to Sunday baseball, but that they de-
cLned, for different reasons, to sign
the petition. One man did sign and
later asked that his signature be with
drawn which request was gladly
granted by Rev. Mr.. Stone.
When asked for the names of those
who were circulating the petitions he
said that it might be that some of the
men would not care to have their
names published. Personally he had
no objection. He further stated that
permission had been given Prosecut-
ing Attorney Johnson to release the
names of the petitioners if he cared to
do so. The petitions are expected to
| be in Mr.. Johnson's hands today.
In his very fair and frank discus
sion of the baseball matter Rev. Mr..
Stone said that it might be possible
| that a majority of the residents of
| the city favor Sunday baseball, but in
| view of the law and the moral side
| Of the proposition there was a feeling
| among many residents of the city that
| action should be taken to secure the
| enforcement of the law.
He said further that he had been
| given to understand that many Put
| nam young men are in the habit OF
| going to Webster Sunday afternoons
| and spending time there drinking at
| places where liquors are obtainable on
| the Sabbath. 1t had been represented
| to him that if Sunday baseball were
| allowed here, these young men would
| stay at home. He stated that this was
| the strongest argument he had heard
/
| town and realized that Putnam was
in a very difficult position. as to the
| opportunities afforded young men tc
4 go into the neighboring" town to drink
! on Sunday, a fact that he deplores.
AS to the fans, they are waiting
| around to see what is going to hap
pen Sunday. There is no question bu
| that the agitation over the Sunday
| baseball question is going to bring
them out in droves tomorrow after
noon.
Fined for Contempt of Court.
Edward Lovely was before Judge
| Lucius H. Fuller in the city court OF
| Friday morning, charged with intoxi
cation and breach of the peace. Be
fore the session was over a. charge o
contempt of court was added to thu
list. Alexander Lovely the prisoner
brother, appeared and told the cour
that the man had been living will
him but would not leave the hous
when ordered to do so. Edward tool
exception to his brothers statement