Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-31

are. AN abysmal ignorance OF his
'ory is shown by the attack upon
our sabbath in Richmond under the
suisc OF blue laws. What are 'bluc
laws? In about the year 1850 laws
were passed in New England prov
inces prohibiting persons from dress
ing more richly than their wealth
Mould Justify: prescribing what
! might ana what might not he worn
| on SUNDAY: th''I men for not vot-
! ing or for refusing to hold public
| 1ihce: prohibiting the wearing of en-
| hroidcrcd garments and laccs: dis
couraeing the use OF ribbons ana
great boots: prescribing the length
and width of sleeves; providing for
the punishment Of scoloinE women
| by confinement In stocks or ducking
| IN n pool. And in Virginia. absence
! from church was punished by ii fine:
swearers were fined a; The rate OF
smiling an oath. Similar laws
| were enacted in most Of the Coz.
! ONES. In Connecticut the ringing Of
watchman's bell was tn" signal FOR
I every on. to arise in the morning;
| q" one was allowed the use Of to-
bacco more than once day. and that
not within ten miles of a house: con
| stables attended church services car
ryihE long wand tipped on one cN-
other end with the tail OF rabbit
II child became weary OF the long
sermon and dropped off to sleep. it
was hit on the head with the heavy
i'cnd of this wand: II weary mairon
nodded she was tiCklcd on the nose
with the rabbit tall Such laws are
rightly called blue laws and they
would not remain on the statute
| Richmond or Virginia which even
slightly resembles ;hoS. blue laws
Declares Iieiicf Is Free.
Under our Constitution the state
- 4.
practices. but can only guarantee 10
! the citizen the free exercise thereof.
Every man is free TO believe or not
T re- to worship OF not worship.
largely trophy OF the Eartists. who
| have consistently advocated religious
freedom. Had our critic hccu willing
10 learn what said before he passed
Judgment. he might have read this
sentence: a mans religion is no CON
Germ OF the state unless he inter
iercs with the religion and rights
Of others. He nigh, also hnv" as
certa!ncd my views upon fanaticiS:n
some are as fanatical opponents OF
tt'rohiDi,ion as others are Of tea. cof-
.,,., these vet PAPERS have .s,udiously
avoided all ] said about the present
adminiStrati"n,s unsuccessful attempt
to abolish outright the Department;
OF Prohibition. They have not al
iudcd to my charge. based upon Com
missioner Smiths report. that the re
" ,ho arnpropriation is meagcr and
!ld EAcr WTlG1 1 rirAT Will i T TdT
I NE !, md Thry y hnvG taken out Of 4
sentence. apart from It's connection
anu made hula aloo about pardons.
hat Is their method. II suits their
. Takes Up Pardon Cases.
The statement that as many MS
phruonS We're granted in the two
"nrS, 1919. to convicted viola
nccn quest 'oncd. That sentcnc. was
Il mere Incident in the main arr;
, mani ,'..; on IN" attitude OF certain in
nition laws: But they say. 'numnr-
Gus ones of these were unon rrrn,,
m"ntation Of the Commissioner ~
J., ION. was careful Ia say
ih nave been granted uron RECON-
m"nhhti"n. hut the hardening mower
IS Vested solely in the Govcrnor. and
ne responsibility rests urnn hir,:
:" NAT ahout the pardons granted rnn.
THY 10 The recommendations Of ,hn
commissioners What about those
H." ~, ." eErcgIonS offenders over
ir"hipition' hold in my h,nI
CC"nirs of nineteen letters from ,h..
ON missioner Of Prohibition "nros
ii'N IN" pardon or us many cases ,vLn
were parloncd in tho years ialS.,oia
i''rr ar" fnv sample crsrx ~
ZINES being omitted for charjtohi.
r'a sons: ''''' ''""ie
Case III can SEQ no good
,n,r granting this pardon hayc Jn'
,ii"''ht"u over IL for two DAVIS and
! "I ncc m"r@ ,c"ns!d"r it; tho nrm"r
no;one IN IN" conviction that tho
Si'hI.e' mercy which can he shown
M TINS time is To force this man 80
spend his entire term in prison H.,
Is reported TO he an old ana norm,
ciouS offender.
snnnid be convicted for III" entire
nm" IS as mcrciful wnrnin" %
scores and scores OF men n,rI,,ns
hundreds IN that section. who arc
Trey are not deferred. will hrin,:
N" same suffering upon their Fam,
,'''S tHht this man has brought Ia
''S tnin'iS' Vt he wa: hardened
,h", petitions. the record ct INC cas-,
ana the bill Of exceptions. and nil
other matters submitted nv Your Ev
S"lirnry. can see no reason why
H"rntlVr Cl"mcncy should be- cxcr-
c'*rd In behalf Of either Of these ne
'itioners. Tn" oEcnS" was an agra
Naicd on" both parties are equally
guilty and the circumstances are a;
ne ncSt aggravated character The
sentences imposed by the colr, mr..
iiHht: compared with tho oncnSrS.
ana IN those sentences the court II
self appears 10 HAY" given The H.
'cndamis every consideration OF mcr-
-. ThcS" men were partlnncd OYER
~" commissioners opposition ana
without the Endorsement OF the Judge
Case B There is Il "rca, deal Of
innocent soft drinks through tho
STATE because of tn" number OF un-
lawful beverages which ara being
marketed and sold The PRINCIPAL
Offenders are thcs" who sci. nuil.
purnoriing 10 he cider. which con