The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-09-26
The MeddIer
If the coat fits you, PIT it on

One topic has monopolzed converse
ton and discussion in Brattleboro since |
Sunday There is no particular need
of saying what it is because everybody |
who is intelligent enough to read a |
newspaper knows. 1t has been a good
while since any local happening has
aroused so much interest as the move
ment which brought about the arrests
of baseball players, golf players and a
store proprietor for breaking the ven
| cradle statute relating to Sunday OBJ
servance. The case of one of the base
ball players already has been tried, and
! despite the fact that judicial rulings
| prevented the introduction of any evil
dence tending to show that the defend
ant was not participating in a game
within the meaning of the law the
jury failed to agree on a verdict.
| 1t would be extremely interesting to
know just how the twelve ''good men
and true' divided on the question and
by what process of reasoning each
reached his decision but those of course
are matters which are supposed to re-
main forever within the sanctity of
the jury room. In general, however, it
may be said without intent to preju-
dice any future consideration of like
cases that the average man cannot
bring himself to consider such matter
solely according to the law and the
evidence. especially when the law is
SO far removed from present day Gus
toms and thought as the one on which
! this ease hinged This is no reflection
] on the intelligence or honesty of the
average man but simply fact that IL
: Illustrates one of the weaknesses of the
: jury system.
The Meddler has grave doubts as to
the wisdom of continuing the prosecu-
II ton of this case 1t may be well to
put golf player on trial, if for no
other reason than to forestall any
! charge of discrimination, but certainly
nothing can be gained by trying the
, baseball case before another jury. One
conviction ism going to prove any
/ thing that is not already known, nor
; is it likely to have any appreciate eff
feet in, bringing, about a repeal of the
law. The only thing that might &C
complish that would be an enforcement
campaign of such magnitude that it
would cost the state thousands of dol
lars and of such severity that it would
arouse all sorts of antagonism. The
past week has demonstrated beyond
peradventure of doubt that the senti-
ment in Brattleboro is overwhelmingly
against the so-ealled "blue law" which
has been called into use, and until such
: time as it can be modified the sensible
thing seems to be to. view it as just
what it is-a relic of times when witch
craft was a capital offense, sanitation
unknown and the value of wholesome
outdoor recreation never considered.
4 The regrettable feature Of the en-
tire incident-for st really is hardly
more than that in comparison to i'm
portant things-is the antagonism il
I has aroused. Whether or not the loca
A ministers were the orignators of the pc
e tition to which they put their names il
must be evident to them that theil
course was i'll advised even if inspired
by motives wholly sincere. There never
was time when churches were in great
er need of young men than today and tn,
young men they need the most are thcs,
: they haven't already got The way t.
interest young men, however, is not by
the enforcement of harsh law but by
: trying TO meet them half way in spirit