The Washington times., 1921-02-07
BLUE LAWS CLOSE
|. NEW JERSEY TOWNS
Elizabeth and Paterson Domi-
naied by Gloom Through
Strict Sabbath.

NEW YORK. Feb. New Jersey
rot its nrst real taste Of blue law
enforcsmsnt yesterday. Old Man
Gloom staiked through Elisabeth
and Paterson and chuokisd as he
behsld the Sabbath observed as only
the puritsnicsl would have II.
Those thriving Industrial eommu-
mites. In days gone by always the
scenes OF msrriment and Eayety on
the seventh day, were quiet and de-
serted yesterday. IL was q real
blue Sunday.
Moving picture shows and public
dancing were taboo. In Elisabeth.
here the terpsiohorean art had
always been the one big Sunday
pastime, Mike Shea, the police chief,
clampsd the lid down tight.
OF course, Mr.. voistead had long
since seen to Il that the taverns
were as dry as the Sahara. Any
how. they are always shut tight In
Elisabeth on the Sabbath.
EXODUS FROM TOWNS.
with the exception OF the good
church folk. majority OF the
oitisenry Of Elisabeth and Paterson
decred that the best things In those
communities yesterday were the
trolleys and trains that left them.
As q rerult there was an exodus
that left them quieter than Gold
smiths Deserted Village"
Over in Passaic, while public dane
ing was taboo. one could At least 60
to q movie without fear of being
thrown inio the bastile. Movies and
vaudeville shows held for benefits
were permitted In Jersey City.
Hoboken was as wild and woody as
In its. palmiest days before the war,
with everything on tap except the
dispensing Of hootch and brew-in
the open.
Newark was as merry as II always
has been on the Sabbath. The hand
Of the Blue Law had not reached
there. when 1t does Mayor c. p. Gil
len will have few things to say to
the reformers. That they will have
downright hard night on their hands
Gillen said:
T believe Sunday movies are
great thing-the only form OF recrea-
ton within the reach of the poor on
their day of rest. What would these
so-called reformers have them do
remain indoors all day Sunday look
ing out on fre-escapes and family
washes hanging on the clothes-line?
SEES NEED OF MOVIES
SUNDAY movies are not only a
source Of pleasure, but an actual ne
cessity for the welfare OF q large in
dustrial community. These blue laws
may be all right for rural communi-
ties, though I seriously doubt II.
They won't 60 for cities like New
York, Newark. Elizabeth and other
large places with cosmopolitan popu-
lations.
There Is absolutely no harm In
Sunday movies. dancing or any other
innocent recreation when conducted
decentIy. Half the profits of the
movies and vaudeville shows here on
Sunday are devoted to charity. i
don't intend to permit anybody to In
terfere with them. The rich can ride
around in their limousines on Sunday,
play golf and indulge in other pleas
ures that only they can afford. But !
don't Intend that the poor shall be de-
prived Of their little pleasures, no
matter what these blue law reformers
think about it.
"The restoration Of these Puritani-
cal-or tyrannical--blue laws is abb
solutely unAAmerican. I have as
much respect for the churches as
anybody, but / feel certain, as does
most everybody else, that only the
narrowest Of the narrow-minded are
advocating a blue Sunday"