Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-04-02
AS THE PEOPLE VIEW 1T

| providing that in the District
of Columbia it should be unlawful
ION the Lords day, commonly
called Sunday, for any person to
labor or envoy any person to labor
or pursue any trade or secular bus
ineas, works of necessity and
charity always excepted, ..... to
keep open for use for any secular
purposes any dancing saloon, thea
ter bowling alley or place OF public
ASSEMBLY or amusement where
sports are carried on for such pur-
poses" The law also provided that
employers of persons engaged on
Sunday in works of necessity or
charity" except in household serv-
ice, shoul neither require or per-
nit" such employee to work on
twenty-four consecutive hours dur
ing the week. 1t also made equita-
BILE provision for those who observe
another day than Sunday as rest
day. Last November two confer
ences Of the Southern Methodist
church adopted resolutions urging
that congress restrict the running
of interstate trains on Sunday
The alliance had nothing whatever
to do with this, but it gave occa-
sion to new propaganda. The next
day the New York Sun came out
with a great front page head an
Inouncing that the Lords Day al
lance and its sympathizers wanted
to establish the Puritan Blue Law
Sabbath and we're ready to amend
the federal constitution to that
end.
There followed a nationwide
newspaper excitement A consid-
cradle part of the publicity was
! misleading. The fact IS that the
ALLIANCE has never planned for an
amendment to the constitution to
secure more stringent sunday laws
nor asked congress to forbid Sun
day railroad trains. TIE constitu-
ton of the United States recogniz-
on Sunday as day when the presi-
dent may not be expected TO do
any work or any act of congress,
land thus. implicitly, recognizes
: Sunday as the peoples rest day.
Congress already has ample inter-
state power to forbid unnecessary
Sunday railroad traffic. The ALI
ance has very properly urged that
the running of excursion trains
upon the Lords day at price
lower than. that of week days is
unfair to Christians who have con-
scientious objections against using
this holy day as a holiday, and also
as contrary to public policy be-
cause it interferes with the observ-
ance of 4 day on the preservation
OF which the morals and political
permanency of our nation are
based. Probably most of the citi-
zens of the United States in their
hearts believe in about what the
ALLIANCE advocates. But certain or
ganized amusement interests which
for their profit want to break
down the Sunday laws make a
great cutlery against Sabbath pro-
lection. So foolish has been news
paper discussion that 1t has aroused
a considerable number OF cranks
TO write threatening letters to DR..
Bowiby, general secretary Of the
society. But good many work.
ingmen are shrewd enough to
know their friends. One letter TO
| Aobs htoll W al
form you / am one of the Many
Night Watchman who has 10
work twelve hours for 365 days In
the year never night off. If
we ask for any time off we would
lose our place as they hire US for Z
days a week. When / am through
my work l go to bed get up an
go to work again don't you think
this is a hard life If you could
compel these people to give day
once a week or one day in two
weeks it would be great bless
ing for all of us.
your Respect
(Signed)
FROM A POOR TIRED WATCH
MAN"
The Christian and business fore
es of this country wrote prohibit
ton into the constitution. The ele-
ment of the population that OPP
poses prohibition is extremely La
BILE to panic now at the suggestion
OF any further constitutional
amendment limiting pleasure" for
the public good. 1t accordingly
creates bugaboos with which to
frighten itself.
HUGH A. COOPER.