The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-31
SPELLACY CHALLENGES HOLCOMB--
 "SIMUL PREVIOUSLY MAKE PUBLIC
 PARTY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS"
ToleratIng Lawlessncss.


 Today in this state we tolerate the opening of our motion picture thea tres in some localities, and we permit Sunday professional baseball to be played. all without the sanction of law. The governor Is the chief exec utive of the state, charged with the sacred obligation of enforcing the laws Has he discharged his respon- sibility in this regard? You will, I feel sure assent to the proposition that Sunday entertainments, legally | conducted, will be far less demoral- izing and far less disgraceful than | brazen and unpenalized persistence In broadcast violation of law, Nothing | conceivable Is better calculated to desecrate society, to outrage govern ment, to dilute public respect for all law, than the silent condonement, by the governing power, of fragrant de- l fance of a public statute. The law should be either enforced or repealed If it be impossible of enforcement, Its immediate alteration is demanded by the highest dictates of good states manship
 Recreation Right of All. I'do not believe any special class l should have the open opportunity foI | Sunday recreation while similar in- dulgence Is denied to other classes | The accident of circumstance, by which one citizen is fortunate enough to afford an automobile, and is per mitted to operate 1t on Sunday fol pleasure, makes it unfair and un- democratic that his less affluen neighbor should be deprived of sucf innocent amusements as are within his reach. Why not give him the legal license to attend a motion pic | ture show, or a baseball or other clean, harmless game, provided al ways, of course, that no religious ser vice in the community is interferret with or disturbed.
 Recreation is heatlhful spiritually mentally and physically. In the busy rush of our complex, modern life, it benef1cent and healing effects art needed sorely. To the mass of thu people 1t is possible only on the Sab bath Day. We have poured millions of dollars into the treasuries of tn, Y. M. c. A., the K. of C., the Jewisl Relief and the Salvation Army, fo the sole and avowed purpose of giv ing pleasure and entertainment to ou soldiers and sailors. We have dom wisely.
 Man a Social Animal
 In the stress of war, with the natiol In the throes of nerve-rackini strain, with men and women pouring their very souls into the task of vic tory, is 1t wise, is it patriotic, is religious, to say there shall be m
 amusements on the Sabbath Day Man is a social animal. By the deep est and God-given instincts of his na ture, he seeks the company of hi
 fellow men. Is it not the part o
 good statesmanship to have Sunda,
 entertainments frankly conducted un der the sanction and control of lay
 rather than to have illegalized pleas
 ures sought and found in contraven Il tion of law?
 When I was in the Senate I intro duced a bill providing for systen of local option on the question 0 Sunday recreations. That statute, i enacted, would allow each communit, to determine for itself, first, tn character of Sunday amusements and, secondly, the conditions unde which they could be held. Woult that profane the Sabbath? Woult
 that be an influence baneful to tn noblest aspirations of Christian ca reer? To my notion, it would be i'm mensely sane and more in keeping
 with the spirit of the Lords Da, than is the existing regime of con , temptuous disdain of law on the par of both citizens and government.
 Public Discussion Best. Among those voting for the measur
 over the Governors veto were Messrs Bowers, Bailey and Dillon Thos
 three men are now the nominees o the Republican party, in their re
 spective districts. for the State Senate Does the Republican State Centra Committee repudiate those nominee
 of it's own party? The. circulars sen
 to the clergymen of the state by tn
 Republican committee were intended for private consumption. I emphat ically am in favor of the public dis cussion of all public questions, and therefore take the liberty of makin
 public this reply to your letter. Allow me to suggest again tn simultaneous publication of both tn Democratic and Republican campaigl contribution as the most expedition and conclusive process, by which t sift the falsity of the charges mad . against me by the Republican Stat Central Committee in the circular t which you refer. . I thank you for having sought tn } truth. Respectfully,
 ] (Stgned) Thomas j. Spellacy