The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-12-08
Editorial
of the Day
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
(From the New York rimes.)

Having prohibited or tried TO pro-
hibit one habit seven days in the
week, the "reformers" in large mea-
sure, apparently the same reform
ers,' are seeking to interfere with or
prescribe the Sunday habits Of the
American people. One would think
that the success of liquor prohibition
is not SO ample or splendid as to
make it safe for the well-intentioned
censors and regulators Of public NOR
ais and customs to venture upon new
restrictions. The psychological ef'
feet of war has hitherto been sup
posed to be toward u liberality or
laXity of morals. In our own happier
country the reverse is the case. An
organized and well financed effort to
set back the clock of time and secure
a severe observance of Sunday, the
Sabbath" as its advocates prefer TO
call it, is to be made. 4 highly in
dustrial and populous community is TO
be forced into fetters found calling
and shaken off by "a far simpler and
less developed civilization.
Reform" organizations, already
sure, no doubt, of certain number
Of docile and card-ndex Legislators
at Washington will press upon Con-
gress the passage Of a law forbidding
the operation of interstate trains on
Sunday, the opening of any postof-
flee or the delivery of any mail, and
the transaction of any business by
any person or corporation engaged in
interstate commerce on that day. The
purpose of the proposed law is declar-
ed To be Ito express our national
determination to honor the Sabbath
day and keep it holy, as God COM
mands."
These enthusiasts forget that under
our Constitution and laws Sunday is
not religious, but civil holiday.
The value of day of rest is recog-
nized. Sunday, because it is observed
by the majority, is taken as the most
convenient day of that rest. The
State statutes on the subject are
modelled after English forms. Or
dinarily, by their language, labors of
necessity and general public accom-
modation are excepted. The rigid
Sabbatarians seek TO interrupt freight
and passenger traffic, TO stop it for
day, 10 dislocate trade, TO cause
damage and Inconvenience 10 multi
tude Of persons. What would be-
come of pershable goods under their
ban? The case of the milk dealers
alone is sufficient TO show the danger
and the impossibility Of their proposal.
If IL could be carried out, it would not
only cause immense financial loss. but
would injure the public health and
diminish exercise and harmless plea
sure.
The trouble with these purists is
that they want to make everybody
conform 10 their ideas of Sunday OBJ
servance. They never think of the
millions Of people, the majority who
have to work five and half or sin
dnys week. This campaign fol
Federal restrictions is accompanied
with another for lessening or abolish
ing public Sunday amusements or eX'
ercises, outdoors and in. The work
| ingman and the hired man can spend
their day of rest az home. The mono
/ tony OF their labor mustn't be re-
heved. Everybody's Sunday must be
after the pattern Of, say, Westcrville
Ohio Now, II any persons or religi'
| Gus denominations want Sunday kept
in n particular way, it Is their privi'
logc 80 to keep 1t. The churches
can enforce discipline upon theiI