The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-06-22

The prohibition of liquor in Iowa, a.
predicted, is being followed by the en-
forcemelt of the most drastic Blue
Laws" ia the history of America. not
even excepting the statutes CT this
kind which held sway in the New Eng
land Colonies, to the horror of succeeda
ing generations of more liberal citH
zens.
The following dispatch from Des
Moines to the Detroit Free Press, says:
Attorney General H. M. Havener's
crusade for observance of the blue
laws In Iowa today resulted in several
hundred arrests il various cities.
Tive downtown stores in Des
Moines opened and did rushing trade
In cigars, ice cream sodas and other
similar lines of traffic. Their proprie-
tors We're arrested.
More than 100 arrests were made in
Council Bluffs, including telephone op-
orators, employees OF Sunday morning
papers, newsboys, movie men, fruit
stand proprietors and ice cream sell
ers.
In several counties the sale OF
newspapers was prohibited.
May Arrest Pastors.
Madison county, where County At
torney Wilkinson announced that min
listers receiving salary for the day
would be subject to the provisions OF
the law, was one OF the bluest' coun
ties In the state, but no ministers were
arrested
According to the Des Moines Regis
In the first Sunday closing law raid in
that city, SO were charged with selling
groceries, food, fruit, ETC.; 81 for aid
ing in staging a Western League base
j ball game; one restaurant keeper, one
druggist, one garage proprietor, one
popcorn merchant and six theater pro.
prietors.
Cigar stores, drug stores. soft drink
establishments. ETC., were closed.
Test cases will be asked by 60 Jew.
ish citizens who claim that they are
exempted by the law because of their
religion.
The Blue Law, cause of all the trou'
BILE, is an ancient piece of legislation,
supposed to have died long ago. Ii
reads as follows:
Section 5040-Breach OF Sabbath.
If any person be found on the first day
of the week, commonly called Sunday
+ engaged in carrying firearms, dancing,
hunting. shooting, horse racing, or In
! any manner disturbing a worshipping
assembly or private family, or in hNY
! ing OF selling property of any kind, or
in any labor save that of necessity, or
! charity, he shall be fined not more
than five or less than one dollar, and
be imprisoned in the county Jail until
the fine, with costs of prosecution
shall be paid; but nothing herein con
tanned shall be construed to extend to
those who conscientiously observe the
seventh day of the week as the Sab
bath, or to prevent persons travelling
or families emigrating from pursuing
their journey. or keepers of toll
bridges, toll gates and ferrymen from
attending the same"
Pinch Acting Mayor, Too.
Attorney General H. NJ Havener
who is responsible for. reviving this
archaic legislation caused the arres
of Thos. Fairweather, acting Mayor o.
Des Moines, also owner of the De:
Moines Western League ball team.
Although the proprietors we're taker
away by the authorities, theaters die
not close and patrons remained in thei
seats.
Druggists were besieged with call!
for prescriptions" adds the De!
Mones Register, but refused to fiji
any save on instructions from a physi
clan that the case was one of life an'
death
Those restaurants generally open Oh
Sunday did business as usual, but sole
no cigars or candy from the counter
As a result of this misguided actiy
ity. Des Moines had an awful thirst
Il was impossible to buy ginger-ale o
pop" or any of the non-intoxicatin
drinks used as substitutes for liquor
Even Utah Is Disguised.
The Salt Lake City, Utah, Tribune
in an editorial entitled Blue Laws Re
vived," declares:
The so-called Iowa blue laws, lon
supposed TO be obsolete. have been pu
into force in Des Moines and the othe
! towns OF the county in which the cap
tai OF the Hawkeye state is situated
We doubt il any good will be accom-
plished. They had statutes or thi
kind in the New England colonies, N
tably Connecticut, prior 10 the revolt
tionary war, but they fell into disus
IN the course OF time. A great man