The Topeka state journal., 1921-03-12
Statutes Have Been in Effect in
Kansas Since 1858.
NO Work on Sabbath Except as
Necessary"
NO GAMES OF ANY KIND
CIty ordinances Prevent Desc
cratiOns ON Sunday.
Provide Fine of $50 for Horse
Racing.

Thou Shalt not, says the Kansas law,
DO these things on the Sabbath:
Hunt or shoot.
Play games of any kind. (Modi-
ned by court decisions.)
work or cause others to work, ex-
cept as necessary"
Sell any goods, except drugs or other
articles of immediate necessity.
With exception of the Sunday anti
hunting law, which was enacted in
1886, all of these statutes have been
in effect since 1886. A reminder that
Kansas, altho the first prohibition
state, has not always been bone dry"
Is in one old law which recites that no
persons shall keep open any ale or
porter house, grocery or tipping shop.
liquor on the first day of the week."
No Games of Any Kind.
The law against horse racing and
card playing on Sunday also adds, "or
games of any kind" In the case of
the state versus Prather it was decided
that this statute does not prevent Sum-
day baseball. Consequently the scope
and effectiveness of this enactment
are uncertain.
The law against working unneces-
sarily on Sunday has been declared
valid by the state supreme court. In
the case Of Topeka versus Crawford
it was held that this prevents opera
Other sections of the law authorize
cities to pass ordinances to prevent
dissertations of the Sabbath day. Prac-
tically every municipality has Sunday
closing and anti-working laws dupli-
eating the state laws, or even moro
stringent. Prosecutions, in fact, are
more often under city ordinances than
the Kansas statutes.
Infringement of the state law is
made a misdemeanor in each offense
h IL, ITNrr <
The six sections covering Sunday laws,
as contained in the general statutes
of 1915. follow:
No. 1861. Every person who shall
either labor himself or compel his ap-
prentice, servant or any other person
under his charge or control to labor
or perform any work other than the
household offices of daily necessity, or
other works of necessity or charity, on
the first day of the week commonly
called Sunday, shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor and fined not eX-
ceeding $25.
No. 1862. The last section shall not
extend to any person who is mem
Der of a religious society by wnom any
other than the first day of the week is
observes such such Sabbath, nor to
prohibit ferrymen from crossing pas
senGers on any day of the week.
No Horse Racing on Sunday. \
No. 1868. Every person who shall
be convicted of horse racing, cock
fighting or playing at cards or games
of any kind on the first day of the
week, commonly called Sunday, shall
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor and
fined not exceeding $50.
No. 1864. Every person who shall
expose to sale any goods, wares or
merchandise, or shall keep open any
ale or porter house, grocery or tip
pling shop, or shall sell or retail any
fermented liquor on the first day of
the week, commonly called Sunday,
shall on conviction be adjudged guilty
OF a misdemeanor and fined not ex-
ceeding $50.
No. 1865. The last section shall not
be construed to prevent the sale of any
drug or medicines. provisions or other
artic,>s of immediate necessity.
No. 1865. Shooting and hunting on
Sunday Every person who shall en-
gage in hunting or shooting on the
first day of the week, commonly called
Sunday. shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction be
fined in a sum not less than SIS nor
more than 500