Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-01-05
= -------------------------
BLUELAW READY |
| FOR The SENATE
Bill Has Drastic Provisions
Aimed to Secure Stopping
of Work on Sunday.
SENT TO SENATOR M'KELLAR
Measure Prepared by Methodist Min
is.ers and Laymen at Conference
at Tennessee-Includes All
Federal Employees.

Washington, Dec. .31.-Blue law adj
rvocates have their bill all ready for
introduction in the senate and expect
10 press it for consideration soon after
New Years.
1t was sent to Senator Mcclellan of
Tennessee by the Tennessee annual
conference of Methodist ministers and
Iaymen and contains provisions dras-
tic in the extreme.
Aims to Stop Sunday Work.
1t would forbid Sunday work Of
any kind by any employee of the
United States.
1t would stop the running of all in
terstate trains.
1t would exclude from the United
States mail all newspapers published
"'or purporting to be published" on
Sunday.
1t would not only punish by fine and
imprisonment persons doing these
things, but anyone who lads or pro-
cures another" in doing them; that is,
who pays for a ride on an interstate
train on Sunday or buys a Sunday
newspaper that has been carried by
the mails.
Touches All Federal Employees.
Following are the provisions of the
bill, shorn of the legal phraseolOgy.
81. Hereafter it shall be unlawful
for any person in the employment OF
the United States to work or carry on
his vocation on Sunday.
''2. 1t shall be unlawful for any per-
son or corporation to operate on Sun
day any freight or passenger train or
mail train or any other train or part
of train on Sunday In the carrying
on of interstate commerce, trade or
traffic of any kind.
''3. 1t shall be unlawful for any post
office to be open on Sunday or to de-
diver mail on Sunday; it shall be I'M
lawful for any mail to be carried or
delivered on Sunday by any employee
of the United States, whether in city
or cauntrw.
Can Not Carry Sunday Papers.
"4. 1t shall be unlawful for any
newspaper or other paper or publica-
tion published or purporting to be pub
aished on Sunday TO be received, car
ried or delivered as mail by any
agency of the United States. in any
postoffice, or over any route under the
jurisdiction of the United States.
rs. II shall be unlawful for any per-
son or corporation engaged in inter-
state commerce or carrying on any
business or vocation under the laws Of
or with the permission or license of
the United States, or any of its agen-
Giles, to do or carry on any ordinary
vocation or business on Sunday, the
purpose of this act being to express
our national determination to honor
the Sabbath day and keep it holy. as
God commands, thereby securing for
all that opportunity for spiritual and
bodily refreshment decreed by our
Lord for the happiness Of all men and
the safety of all nations.
Punish All Who Aid
'6. Any person who does any of the
things above declared unlawful, or
who procures or aids another in doing
any of the things above declared I'M
lawful, shall be guilty of a misdemean-
or and punished UPON conviction by
due process of law by a fine of not
under 500 or over $4,000 for each
offense, and by Imprisonment for not
over six months in the discretion of
the court.
az. And any corporation that does
or aids in doing these forbidden things
shall upon conviction be fined not less
than 81 600 or over 100000 for each
offense, and upon conviction a second
time for like offense shall forfeit its
charter and franchise and be enjOined
from operating in interstate com
merce; provided, however, that emerg-
ency instances of charity and necessi-
ty are not included or punishable I'M
der the provisions of this act"
Backed by Sixteen Churches.
Though not officially given out, it is
understood that this measure win
have the backing of the Lords Day
alliance which is supported by six
teen Of the strongest evangelical de
nominations in America, including the
Methodist, Baptist. Presbyterian, Epis-
copalian and Congregational chur hes.