Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-11-01
Where The People
May Have a Hearing
Bull Fight and S. S. Convention

Bull Fight and S. S. Convention
To the Editor of The Republican:
The twenty-first annual convention |
of the Arizona Sunday School associa- |
ton held its closing session last Sun
day afternoon and evening in the Cen
trail Avenue Christian church. During |
the same afternoon the second bull !
fight occurred just outside the city
limits, at the east end of town. have
no quarrel with those who attended
the latter. Under our free democdacy
they had the same right to view the
bull fight as l and others had to at
tend the convention. Every person to
his liking in Arizona. The two affairs
were held so far apart that neither one
disturbed the other. In a city of 49,
600 people there were plenty to fill the
seats at both places and some to spare.
A good woman of my acquaintance
upheld the bull fight because there are
so many returned soldiers in Phoenix
who enjoy such amusement, she said
During the war it was told repeatedly
that when the soldier boys came home
they would show us new type of re-
ligion, and give the ministers lessons
in preaching. / saw few soldiers at
the convention on Friday and Satur-
day. but not many. on Sunday / was
not able to observe the number pres
ent. How many attended the bull
fight, have no means of knowing,
whether a great number of few The
soldiers can answer for themselves
whether viewing a Sunday fight of this
kind is new type of Christianity.
This much by way of introduction.
In the Monday morning Republican al
most twice as much space is given to
describe the bull fight as to tell about
the state Sunday school convention.
Does this represent the spirit and
tastes of the people of Phoenix? Only
one speaker at the afternoon meeting
of the convention is mentioned. His
address was fine and worthy of note
but there were other prominent speak
ers on the program, well known
throughout the state and some are
familiar to Sunday school workers
across half the continent Not word
is said in this short report in regard
to the closing meeting of the conven-
ton on Sunday evening. except four
and a half lines telling of 1000 people
crowded into the church to hear the
brilliant program"
Professor Lockwood of the Arizona
state university, one of the most schol-
arly and polished speakers in our state,
gave an address at the evening session.
It was well worth reporting. Probab-
~ the rap that the professor gave Ari-
IONA, when he spoke of the publicity
we were getting from the 'bootlegging'
in Bisbee the prize fighting in Doug
las, and the bull fighting at Phoenix
did not please the reporters if any
were present. But there was a good
round of applause at this statement
which shows that there is considerable
sentiment in Phoenix that does not
favor the baser things of life.
Where the fault rests for making a
bull fight more prominent in the pages
of a daily paper than a three days
= convention to discuss the religious
training of the children and youth Of
the land, | am not able to state. Il
may be that the publicity committee
of the Sunday School association die
not do its full duty. But this is true
newspapers generally find what they
desire for publication. Had there beer
a prize fight in one of the churches OF
Sunday afternoon or evening, instea,
of a convention of Sunday school work
ers, the reporters would have scented
| it, and been there to write up the news
| Newspaper men often excuse them
selves by saying that they must pub
| 1ish what their readers want. But
cannot believe that the majority of tn
people of this city favor nearly twic
as much publicity for a Sunday bul
fight as for state Sunday school con
vention of able and noted speakers. I
this were true, then Phoenix is on tn
down grade.
Arizona seems to be the only stat
north of the Mexican border that per
mits rough sports that cultivate man
animal nature. Many tourists are nov
coming to Phoenix, and also person
who intend to make this their per
manent home. What class of resident
do we wish TO come here--lovers c
prize fights and bull fights or those c
higher ideals? Real estate agent
hotel and rooming house keepers, an
builders better think about thes
things. What environment do you wis
your children to grow up in? News
papers have great power in mouldin
public opinion. They can raise or low
err the standard of morality. whic
shall stand first in Phoenix, bull fight
or Sunday school conventions; thu
which debases men or that which eS
ats them? Let each answer for him
self. JOHN K. REED.