The sun., 1919-04-20
SUNDAY BASEBALL
Ill BILL BECOMES LAW
~ Gov. Smith Signs Measure
" Legalizing Sport After
9 O'Clock.
Ion LOCAL OPTION BASIS
"a Restriction Against Fishing
%" RemOycd--Issues Long
Statement.
speeiui Despa.eh 10 rur Soy.

d
ibis afternoon. Gov. Smith announced
= athat he had signed the bill which was
.%Tbaksed by the Legislature some time
'Ecago. The law also removes the proh!-
.asbhIon against Sunday fishing. The
rStssvernor made 1t plain that he had af-
Ysftsed his signature to the bill only after
very mature Aeberation and considera-
sNftpn OF the Arguments advanced by the
I formidable opposition. ..-
g7,;.FHowever. the Governor pointed out
g.,that had he countenanced the retention
:, o. the old restrictions against Sunday
ss,paseball he would have continued rule
Ivy small minority. He emphasized
life fact that the rank and file of the
ctizens of this State work six days n
a~eek and that Sunday presents their
only opportunity for recreation.
~ Now that the Governor has acted ii
'uHd%volves on the various cities and towns
81 decide for themselves whether they
sa:want Sunday baseball. In New York
s5cityfit In UP to the Board of Aldermen
tsfo. pass an, ordinance permitting the law
TO become effective in that city. The
.. statement which the Governor issued
~. after announcing his having signed the
s,.sbpl Is as follows:
~, This bill purports to amend the pro-
Vision or the penal law prohibiting pub
sEc sports on Sunday. This amend
ntent takes two forms: First the
prohibition, against fishing is clint
rat ed. and, second. localities are au-
80. thorized, through their local legislative
- bodies. by ordinance, to permit the play
g.Ii1s of baseball games on Sunday after
noon after o'clock. for which an adj
rn1ission fee may or may not be charged
Fishing LegaIixed Too.
"As TO the proposal 10 eliminate the
prohibition against fishing. which many
years ago became and has remained a
dead. letter. there seems to be no serious
opposition, and it is proper that the law
should he amended, so that 1t will carry
TO longer an utterly unenforced and I'M
enforceable provision in this regard.
."As to the proposition to permit locali-
= ties to determine the question for them
selves as to whether or not baseball
games shall be permitted on Sunday
afternoon most decided opposition has
arisen. have received hundreds OF
communications from citizens both ad-
vccating and opposing the proposed
IS change and. ] recognize that the feeling
tfAHipon this subject is very deep and that
W the action which l take in this matter
whl be viewed with very great interest
Shy a DISQUALIFICATION Of our citizens.
-, For this reason l have given this
- subject my most careful consideration
- not only since the hearing upon the bill.
but since its first introduction when It be-
. came probable that the matter would ul-
timatey come before me for determine
6 tion. ,.-
s,ft''t--
al = Majority Wants the Law.
III realize that a very substantial por-
.'<tion OF. our people most couscientiously
sFsSppose' permission to indulge in recrea-
sbytion or sports of any kind on Sunday l
prospect them for their opinions and be-
ss!heve that In those opinions they are en-
1~ctirely conscientious. On the other hand,
sd know that great many who are ad-
advocating this measure and who believe in
fsreasonable recreation on Sunday are
,ssrsqually good citizens Of the Common
swealth. and their opinions are entitled to
equal weight
After a thorough consideration of
the matter ! am OF the firm opinion
That those members Of q community who
,.f-pppose all recreation on Sunday, or at
d east recreation permitted by this amen
81 datory law, have no right In law or
An morals where they constitute a mi
,,-ANority OF a community to impose their
t,ylews upon the majority. who disagree
,ys,Tith them and TO prohibit the latter
ss,s1rom exercising rights and privileges
,.sS2 which they deem themselves to be
S~''entitied. the exercise of which will in
nowise interfere with the orderly and
tf'roper' Observance OF the day OF rest
'a'oy those desiring to refrain from at
TH lending amusements
y ION the other hand. this bill provides
70 mat where majority OF the community
'.ioHs represented in It's local legislative
p body Is opposed to the playing OF base
'Tsball on Sunday afternoon such amuse-
ment Is prohibited in such locality. II
,ySIepresentative government is what we
,pl,taim and believe 1t to be, the action
,ia.ot the local legislative body will prop
,,erly reflect the majority opinion of the
.: citizens themselves.
.,,[-,. For Harmless Diversion.
- 2stThe witnessing OF baseball game
~ either with or without the payment OF
A.. M admission fee IL most harmless
diversion. 1t is in no sense deteriorat-
sntns TO the moral fibre of the witnesses
t5eyel to do people can and do on Sun
,rtrday pursue their amusements with en-
.o1pre impunity and under the protection
-,-,2f the law. Our golf courses are
crowded. our highways are thronged
with automobilsts seeking on Sunday
change of scene and the beneficial
effects resulting therefrom. The activi-
strtfes OF poor man along this line are
Unnecessarily restricted by the limit Of his
TsSneans. 1t comes however within the
reasonable reach OF many 10 enjoy a
baseball game and to obtain the rest
- which comes from recreation by such
afsaH, outdoor. health giving amusement
FS.se Some such form OF relaxation, on
SO Sunday seems almost imperative and
s2ocsrtainly most beneficial in the cases
iS'br that great mass OF our people who
iasdaring the six week days, are employed
orsa eonfning occupations. having during
S1those days no opportunity for recrea-
'gtion OF any sort / cannot think that II
s'Ftho sentiment of tho majority OF any
iTeommunity as represented by its duly
elected officials Is In favor of permitting,
under such restrictions and regulations
as they may see At to impose, the en-
' joyment OF this very harmless amuse-
p ment on Sunday tho rights OF the mi
T nor'ty are in any wise invaded.
q II believe that before any class of
our citizens should be given the right
to impose their views upon this question,
,on, which people so widely and con-
scieptIously differ upon those who dis
agree with them. they should at least
repI esent the sentiment OF the majority
I'm their respective communities.
'lR this belief propose 10 let the
communities OF this State have the right
ias5- decide this question for themselves
grand determine whether baseball games
a. may he played on Sunday afternoon,
brand u so whether an admission fee
.S~should be charged"
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