New-York tribune., 1920-12-20
FIR. Duffy Says
The Blues w ant
Ducking Stools
They Would Have Stocks in
Times Square for Ciga-
rette Smokers if Given
Their Way, He Declares
Resents All Interference
Believes the Able-Bodied
Should Throw Narrow
backs Out of the Church

Prophesying that If the advocates Of
Sunday blue laws had their way there
would be stocks in Times Square and
ducking stools in the East River, the
Rev. Francis P. Duffy. chaplain OF the
old seth Regiment, led number of
speakers at the Hotel Assor last night
in protesting against projected restric-
sve legislation.
The dinner was given by the Society
Of Arts and Sciences, and among the
speakers were Father Duffy, Rabbi
President of the Board of Aldermen;
John B. Kennedy, publicity director Of
the knights of Columbus; David W.
Or fifth. Sophie Irene Loeb, Amos
pinchot, Corporation Counsel John P
O'Brien. State Senator James j. Walker
and William F. Dee an. vice-com-
mander OF the American Legioh. AS
seniblyman William c. Amos was toast
master.
@The trouble with good people" said
Father Duffy. "is that many of them
are so nice that ordinary people can't
get along with them. You read a lot
IN the Bible about Sabbatarianism,
when narrow-minded legislative people
talked against Christ because He broke
the Sabbath
Not a Religious Question
THE question Of Sabbatarianism is
not religious question in this coun-
try; 1t Is political The United States
has no established religion, and any
attempt TO compel Sunday observance
or the worship of God in any special
way, or 20 interfere with religion be-
ycnd protection given, is contrary to
The spirit of the Constitution.
There are three classes Of people
IN this discussion-the commercializing
interests the Sabbatarians and just
plain Americans. 1t is bad at this
moment for the commercializing in
serests to take chief place in the dis
should not. So far as the Sabbath
ians 60 l got an intimation OF what
We were in for, after the arm;stice,
when several reverend gentlemen
came over to the occupied area to
evaneelize the 'brutalized' soldier
When they proposed closing not only
he vine rooms but the recreation
rooms Of the Knights of Colur bus and
The 7. NJ. c. A, l became alarmed I
thought if they had nerve enough to
reform soldiers who had fought nine
battles IN six months they might want
10 reform me and | objected TO being
reformed in that manner.
y ould War On Narrow-Backs
"it would be a good thing for the
United States If we ali went to church
0r Sundays and if we all had more
reii- n. 1t would be fire thing if
Al. t'a able-b bodied. husky, red-h -hlooded
Az cans who have been frozen out
i s.elr churches by the narrow-backs
Toal % back and throw the narrow
49, f-,J
cEi1@Hes IN keeping with the honor OF
Sod md the diversity OF the men He
ereE.ed.
i belong to a religious organize
.ioA that has had it's uns and downs
AMI has been kicked back and forth,
and when it was on top it tried to run
things to suit itself; but I can speak
here now, not alone for myself, be-
cauac would say the same before a
roomful of bishops and archbishops
and be applauded for it,
We want here nothing but a fair
show-no interference and no help
We want to run cur church and our
religion to suit ourselves, and the peo-
pie who are keeping up the old boge y
Of The church's domination of the
country by Popery are really promot-
ing their own pet scheme to link
church and state, and if the blue Law
people have their way we will have
stocks IN Times Square for varlets
Who smoke cirgarettes and duckine
stools in the East River for hussies
~ho pack vanity cases"
Rabbi Decries Proposal
At Temple Beth-El yesterday Rabbi
Samuel Schulman decried the proposal
Of blue law advocates to have Congress
enact Federal Sunday observance
saw. He said. in part:
II re are not to destroy local self
government altogether in this country,
II we are not to destroy at the root
our liberties, and il we are TO prote st
70 the great power Of the states and
oY the municipalities as nurseries of
the spirit Of democratic selfgov-
ernment, then we should not con-
tinue the habit, which Il growing up,
81 going to the national government
1or legislation on matters which vi
fslly affect the liberties and the inter
ssts of the Individual"
The Rev. DR.. John Roach Straton as
serted last night in q sermon unfolding
,ae blue law" Sunday at Calvary Bap-
sist Church that the crime wave and
oIner evils Of the present were the re-
snlt Of failure 70 observe the Sabbath.
We see already in the wave OF crime
"ascn Is sweeping America" ne said,
some Of the fruits from the violation
y the Sabbath day in this country and
ine weakening Of the church and the
decline Of home influence and parental
authority, which always follow as a
result when the Sabbath is neglected.
we are now beginning already to
cap the whirlwind from the wind of
aulsooecience 70 God and disregard of
MS righteous law which we have been
ssssiduousiy sowing during recent
Inc whole American nation has
Yen on Joy ride Of awlessneas and
%sE.lnculgence instead Of at prayer
SS.sssss'ng, where we ought to have been
.1"s"ing the great war. We have got
eolne back 10 the old landmark and
s 'e oie norne-loving, God fearing Gus
~. of FMS land and the best place to
~. 81. ssi of that is 70 reestabIish a