The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-11-24
FOR NATIONWIDE
Blue LAW SUNDAY
Anti-SaIOOn League d and
Others Start Movement
In North Carolina -.
SECRETARY DAVIS 1ee'
LEADING FIGHT
Southern Cities All Have Strict Law
Relating to Sabbath-First Step Il
Introduction of Bill Regulating OBJ
servance i'm District of Columbia.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.-Congress-
men here are worried over report from
the South that a movement for strict
er observance of Sunday is under way
Some leaders of the Anti-Saloon league
and other temperance organizations have
launched campaign in North Carolina
and other southern states for a national
blue law
The first open participation of the
Anti-Saloon league in this new crusade
was in North Carolina, where the Rev.
r. L. Davis, secretary of the state
| Anti Saloon league. introduced a resolu-
ton in the Methodist conference indoors
| ing the national Sabbath law to be pre-
| scented to congress to stop work and
sports on that day.
Wayne B. Wheeler has repeatedly
| said that his organization is sticking tC
the prohibition question and will not at
| tempt to interfere with the smoking OF
| cigarettes and the observance of the Sab
| bath. but Mr. Davis is the leader OF
the campaign in the South.
| DR.. Wilbur r. Crafts, one of tn,
| founders of the Lords Day alliance OF
| the United States, thinks that the south
1
| Roadway in Virginia and North Caro-
lima, is all right and believes that it vii
spread through the nation
| Cities in every southern state. it wa
| pointed out, have blue laws. Richmond
| Va, one of the last cities to give M
| the saloon, has rigid Sunday observance
laws The selling of cigars, soft drinks
| and the shining of shoes are among tn,
things prohibited In Newbern, y. {.
| where Senator Simmons lives, it il
| against the law to sell gasoline on sun
| day In most of the larger southern
| towns soft drink stands are closed from
| Saturday night till Monday morning.
The Board of Temperance, Prohibition
| and Public Mora Is of the Methodist Epis
copal church, Bishop William +. Mellow
| ell. president, and Clarence True vii
son. general secretary. declared its view
on this subject TO be:
The first day of the week as a da!
of rest and worship. when physical tot
ceases and moral and religious power
| keeping the ideals of American lif
i wholesome and compelling. We canno
afford. either as Christians or Ameri
/ cans to have this day made cheap ant
III contemplate through unnecessary toll
commercializatOn, or by the proclamation
|l of shows and sports.
/ The Nethodl%eI Episcopal tlltirtl
stands for one day in the seven as da,
diyinely given for the highest ends-so
cial. economic, moral and reGgious-an,
demands that it be guarded by sane. en-
forcibIe laws which will preserve tn
rights of all men and infringe on tn
liberties of none"
\ bill TO protect the Lords day
will be introduced when congress meets
IL win provide for the observance o
Sunday in the District Of Columbia
That IS to be the first step to get a ma
tion-wide law. 1t makes it unlawful
for any person to labor or employ an
person to labor or to pursue any trad
or secular business on the Lords day
works of necessity and charity Away
excepted
1t makes it unlawful Ito keep open 70
secular purposes any dancing saIoor
theatre. bowling alleys, place of publ
assembly or amusement, or to engage i
unlawful sports on the Lords day"
Congressman believe that this is tn
entering wedge for a moral crusade t
be conducted by the same forces tina
secured national prohibition.