Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-04-02
Takes Issue With Mfr. Cooper.
Albuquerque, n. NJ,
March 27, 1921.

MafCn ~ lSEl.
Editor Morning Journal, City.
Dear Sir: respectfully wish to
call attention to the statements OF
Rev. Hugh Cooper as reported In
your paper of March 81. under the
sub-heading malls False Propa-
ganda About Lords Day Alliance. J"
The reverend gentleman IS
quoted as saying THE propaganda
about the Lords Day alliance try
ing to put the so-called blue laws
prohibiting baseball and the open
ing of theaters and So-forth on sun
day through congress Is false from
start to finish. Within the past
year there has been absolutely
nothing concerning this subject
even mentioned to congress"
| wish to positively take issue
with the clergyman's statement and
herewith present proof that the
Lords Day alliance Is doing 1t and
that he either lacks information on
the subject or is trying to make Il
smoke screen to hide the avowed
purpose Of the said alliance.
The Lords Day alliance is In
organization created for the pur-
pose of securing by legislation the
religious observance of Sunday
throughout the United States From
leaflet published by the alliance /
quote as their objects: "u To
preserve the Lords Day to Ameri-
ca. . (3) To induce the gen.
eral government as far as possible
to set the example of Sabbath OBJ
servance. (4) To press the rest
day feature of the fourth COM
lmandment. ."
Harry l. Bowlby. the present ma
tional secretary of the Lords Day
alliance, in an interview with cor
respondent of the Public Ledger
of Philadelphia. said, 1--WE purpose
to pass no blue laws. We
purpose TO make it easier for
people to go to church. In other
words, we shall try to close the
baseball parks, the golf links, the
motion picture shows, and other
theaters. the concert halls, the
amusement parks, the bathing
beaches and so on; - and urge
measures to stop Sunday automO-
DllAHe ana JOy ihuih6' ~
he says, I'VE will pass no blue
laws" And is like saying, I'VE
will not rob you, we will Just take
what you have The same Mr..
Bowlby in a convention of the
Lords Day alliancesin Washington.
D. c., December, 1919, said of those
who oppose Sunday laws that they
Ought to be put on boat and sent
to Archangel or elsewhere abroad
This shows the spirit of intolerance
back of the move.
From the Literary Digest" De-
cember II, 1920, page 116, we
quote, 1.-THE Lords Day alliance .
Il is reported to be planning a
campaign to bring about tho strict
enforcement of existing legislation
relative to Sunday observance. 1t
is also reported that the organiza-
ton plans to introduce new Sunday
bills in New York and other
states. Z"
In nearly every session of con-
gress for thirty years there have
been introduced Sunday bills. The
latest was February 10, 1920, and
was entitled, "A bill to protect the
Lords day. That sounds very SIM
liar to Lords Day alliance Our
legislators so far have refused to
pass these religious and anti-Amer-
lean measures.
The leaders of the Lords Day al
lance and kindred associations
realize the religious nature Of these
laws and try to hide it by the plea
of making 1t easier to go to
church." Every city and hamlet
has churches open free to all. How
can it be easier except to go a step
farther and make church attend
ance compulsory In the fourth
century A. D.. laws were made to
stop Sunday work, The people
went to the games and circusses.
These were then closed and yet
people did not go to church. Then
they were compelled to go. Thus
the intolerance of the past was In
troduced by Sunday laws and we
may take heed that history does not
repeat itself with US.
fsigned1 BURT BRAY.