The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1920-04-01
SAVING AND ENFORCING rHr
SUNDAY LAWS IN fExAs

ing statement on the question OF me
sunday Closing Laws
From our observations Of the cam
paign in Fort Worth and In some
other cities Of the state. we believe
that the time IA now here when the
law-abiding citizens OF the whole
state should become aroused over
the defiant lawlcssness Of certain
corporations in our state In their
attitude toward the well established
Sunday laws Of Texas We refer es-
pecially to the amusement assoeil-
tions and corporations, the largest
and most powerful OF which Is that
represented In the theaters and pic
ture shows.
Big Money Our Chief Opponent
Our Fort Worth experience has
revealed TO us that our greatest diff
ficulty in getting the picture shows
and theaters closed on Sundays in
accordance with the law, is not the
desire Of the people TO attend such
shows on Sunday, but that the big
money which can be made BY run
ming the shows on Sunday influences
business men in general to such an
extent that the whole question re
solves itself into whether Texas will
allow her Sunday laws to be bought
for the price Of a personal gain TO
a few, or preserved and enforced for
the good Of the many and the safe
ty and welfare Of the State. DIR.
Geo. W Mcdaniel recently said, THE
power behind the open Sabbath is
avarice, and avarice is the meanest
Of all the devils. Avarice led to the
destruction Of the fairest cities Of
ancient times. II is undermining the
foundation Of certain modern Amer
lean cities. Some Of them are, even
now, reeling toward the fall. Moral
corruption has already set in. To
check this encroaching peril, the
Lords Day is necessary. No civiliza-
tion has survived the loss Of the Sab
bath"
The present campaign in Fort
Worth to close the picture shows and
theaters on Sunday is, up to this
time, only a partial success. All the
shows were closed for two Sundays,
but in the meantime business inter
ests had become to feel strongly that
Fort Worth would suffer too great
a financial loss, il these shows re-
NAMED closed on Sunday, while they
remained open in Dallas, only thir-
ty miles away with good automobile
roads and interurbans every thirty
minutes. Under their appeal the law
enforcing officers Of Tarrant ocun-
ty relaxed in their Sunday closing
campaign for the immediate present,
with the understanding that they ms
law-enforcement officers would re-
ceive the cooperation Of these lead
ing business men in closing the shows
in Fort Worth, IL Dallas would close
her theaters and picture shows on
Sunday.
There is no doubt that Fort Worth,
inspired by her united ministry, led
by her efficient Citizens Committee,
and backed by her leading business
men can close up her theaters and
picture shows at any time that her
goodly sister city. Dallas, will close
her shows on Sunday.
Educational Campaign Continue.
will educate and build sentiment on
Sabbath observance TO the end that
if possible Fort Worth may come TO
the day that she will close her the
alters and picture shows on Sunday
even II all the other cities Of Texas
live in defiance of this sacred law
Of God and Of our land
We are greatly gratified that the
General Pastors Conference Of Dial
las has taken the matter up vigor-
ously. and has issued statement ap-
pealing to all the state 20 arise and
10 see TO it that this fundamental law
Of society be enforced in every city
and county Of the state. We join
most heartily in this appeal. and
would ask that every General Pas
tors Conference in the state take
the matter up at once and plan TO
get II before the people in a way that
viii bring the quickest possible re
suits.
The Sunday Law In Danger
II vigorous and persistent action
is not taken throughout the state.
the law, through open defiance and
disobedience, will be brought into
disrepute and perhaps so altered by
coming legislation that we will no
longer have an American Sabbath,
but a Continental Sabbath, which has
been one Of the great factors that
has led to the downfall OF many Eu-
ropean nations.
Amusement Associations Campaign
ing
Already these amusement associa-
tions are pressing their campaigns in
TO the smaller towns and cities TO
open on Sunday in defiance Of the
law. They have thousands Of dollars
to expend in such campaigns, they
have money to employ the best lie
gal talent and otherwise influence
public sentiment The picture show
men estimated that one Sundays