Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-22
SUNDAY CLOSING
To the Editor Of the Telegraph:

@|N''C' W t"t ]SfSgfeP"'
The article published in the Sat
urday evening issue on the Sunday
law, was clear as to why the pres
ent law should not be changed, and
1t should be read by every man
and woman in the state.
There are many reasons why every
man and woman who works, should
use every means in their power
to protect the Sabbath day, and to
keep the present day on the law
books of the state.
AS stated in the article referred
to above, "The Great God and
Creator" after working six days,
rested on the seventh. He also
later in. the ten commandments
given to man, commanded that a
man do no work on the seventh
day. He even in his mercy, in
cluded the animal. Surely he
knows what was best for mankind"
and the good and true" friends
of the laborer who had the law of
1894 put on the law books of the
state should be commended and hon.
ored for protecting man from the
abuse and tyranny of those VINO at
the time was depressing man whom
they made work from sun up 10
sun down" for a days work and
were like those of to-day who would
have men work every day in the
week to satisfy their love of greed
and pleasure.
There are men living today who
remember when II hours was con-
sidered a days work. Then before
the days of labor organizations 1t
was changed to 10 hours. and after
labor began to combine for their own
benefit they succeeded in having the
time reduced to Q hours, and in
many places a Saturday half-holiday
and finally the work day was re-
duced to s hours. But 1t took years
of agitation and work to bring 1t
about.
The above being true, why in the
name of Common Sense" don't
every man and woman who works
rise up and protest against any
changes in the present law?
A law that was framed to insure
every man day of rest and one
that they can call their own. 1t is
the greatest boone ever given to
mankind. Where is the man or wo-
man who works that does not look
forward to IL as the the work of toll
draws to a close? What a miserable
place this world would be without
one day off in seven. 1t would be
to use the expression - Hell on
EARTH"
1t is not the true American who
is c1amoring for q change in the law.
Look around on any Sunday and
see who IL is who keeps their stores
open il you do. you will find that
the foreigner who has come into
our country during the last decade
and has proceeded to do business on
1nx ~
toms and institutions and defying
our law, in order that they can salts
fy their greed for money. They are
not good American citizens, but 1t
is the duty of good citizens to see
that they are made to respect our
customs and obey our laws and be-
come law-abiding.
There is a certain crowd who for
what gain they can get out of Ii
are doing what they can to have
the law changed who claim that II is
against personal liberty and that the
people should have the right to en-
joy themselves that the shows and
stores should be allowed to be kept
open to allow people to have all
the pleasure and Injuries they want
How ridiculous! 1t is fair and Just
that one set of people should be
compelled to work seven days in the
week in order that another set who
can afford II can satisfy their whims
and desires? Let us be delivered
from that kind OF personal liberty"
Tt seems to tho swriter that the
best for all concerned would be to
keep the present law and enforce
1t to the limit by doing so we
will come nearer to doing our duty
to ourselves and TO our country as
good American citizens.
In conclusion, why is it that US
ually IL Is the men who claim that
they are always working and striving
for. the betterment of the working
mans conditions. are the ones who
cry the loudest about the cruelty
OF the law of 1874 and insist upon
its change or repeal? Surely they do
not imagine thev could formulate a
law that would be more humane
than the Almighty originated.
know that they clair, that time ard
conditions change, but God never
TT. T. POLLOCK.
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