The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-03-18
WATKINS ADMITS DEFEAT OF BLUE
LAWS But DECLARES THE WEATHER.
And not THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE

various vlntdges-NeW MedS-
ures Effective One Month
from Date Of Passage
One month from today. which it
chances Will he "a Sabbath day, North
Dakota may he enjoying Sunday mo-
vies and dramatic productions; a Sun
day game Of baseball. if the weather
is warm enough, and the privilege
of buying openly in local markets
cigarettes whose consumers heretofore
have been forced to procure. them sur
reptiti0usly from mOOnshine cigarette
dealers, DR. to import them from out
side the state. And the following day
North Dakota fight fans may congre,
gate abont the squared arena. ami
witness a hum1inger Of a rize-fight.
providing Governor Frazier gets quic!::
enough action IN the appointment of
his state athletic commissioner.
The enjoyment Of these forbidden,
fruits thirty days hence appears u
have been possible through the vnt,
at the presidential preference pri.
maries Tuesday which present returns
indicate resulted III the repea; OF Blue
Laws which have tor terms varyin:.
from three to thirty years had a place
on North Dakota's statute books.
WATKINS ADMITS DEFEAT
1T looks verv much as thu eve
weather has defeated us" admitted
Rev. F. Il. Watkins. .superintelue.,
the North Dakota law enforcement
league and who was in chargesof the
speaking campaign conducted by the
Home Defenders, an organization for
med to support the blue laws and to
oppose acts providing for their repeal.
which were initiated BY the state
chapter of the American legion.
In q statement to the Associated
Press, Rev. Watkins expressed the be
lief that had weather conditions been
normal North Dakota would have voted
Tuesday to retain lis Blue Laws. IN
view Of the. fact that only fraction
Of the usual rural vote was cast, and
since the cities appea red to have votei
heavily in favor of the repeal Of thes,.
laws, Rev. Watkins expressed little
hope that later returns would over:
come the early lead in favor OF legal
izing the sale Of cigarettes. Sunday
baseball. J. Sunday theatres and pr0fes-
sional boxinx - !.
no REAL CHANGE SHOWN a y y.
VI II do not feel,''' Aaid Rev. Watkins.
that Tuesdays election shows any
real change I'll North Dakota's at
titude toward Sunday baseball, Sun:
day, theatres, the licensed sale Of
cigarettes and the prize. fight. It Is
not in that sense a defeat. In the
rural districts. where opposition to A
repeal Of these laws was strongest,
the weather was responsible for an ali
normally small vote. We must charg !,
the result to the weather and not tc
change In sentiment upon the pa It
Of any large majority OF our people.
moral. EFFECT BAD
III the acts repeating these laws
have. carried, which now seems ap.
parent. it will open Sunday theatres,
whose moral effect believe to be
bad in that they interfere with the
. religious services to which this da,
has been dedicated The boxing bill
will throw he state wide open to the
professional prizefighter. l believe. anil
to the prizetight promoter. neither OF
whom is likely to exert an elevating
influence The effect Of the licensing;
Of cigarettes will lie to make cigarettes
more available not only to all men
and minors over the age of eighteen
hut to make it less difficult for the
younger boys to get them. We have
under the present law succeeded III
large extent at least in keeping
cigarettes away from immature boys
1t will be much harder for us to dt
this when cigarettes are paced ca
sale openly, everywhere. No matte.
how strictly the dealer may observe
the law with regard to selling to min
ors. 1 am afraid that cigarettes arr
certain to drift into their hands. WITH
an effect which will be regrettable. i.
"Our objection 10 Sunday baseball,
has been the commercialization of the
Sabbath and the professionalizatio,l
of Sabbath pleasures. I have never
urged that Sunday baseball Is any
y 1uOI0 COuu0ClNC W SoNsullil6 ftHdu AuN
other sport IL, We have opposed i!
purely on the ground that Sunda,
has been reserved for what we regarl
tie higher things in life.
THE HOME DEFENDERS
The Home Defenders, who led the
campaign in opposition to the repea
Of the blue laws, we're headed by Mrs
Elizabeth Preston Anderson, for many
years president OF the North Dakota
w. C. T. u, as chairman OF the de
partment Of literature: Rev. f. 1
Watkins. superintendent Of the Nortt
Dakota law enforcement league. a,
chairman for the speakers division
NJ. N. Thatcher Of Fargo, treasures
and A. Y. More of Fargo, financia
manager. There was no general organ
lied support for the acts initiated bi
the American legion. The legion mad.
it clear in a number Of formal state
ments that its interest in the matte
ended with the initiat ton Of the acts
The Young Mems Independent league
headed by. Martin Loberg of Fargo
and with headquarters in that cit,
collected some funds for publicit
campaign in favor OF the initiated act
and inserted some paid advertisement
in the press Of the state. but ther,
was much .more publicity. both pai,
and gratis. and a far greater numl,e
of public meetings which argued. 'o
moral grounds. against the repeal 0