Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-02-25
LAWS ARE
NOW IN EFFECT
IN MANY STATES
Regulations for Sunday OBJ
ServanCe Are in Existence
Throughout the Middle
West, Survey Shows.

Chicago, Feb, 24.-Recent agita-
ton on the subject of blue-law
legislation and enforcement has
revealed that virtually all of the
middle-western states at the pres
ent time have Sunday blue-laws,
although many have come to be
regarded as dead letter" statutes
because of enforcement. In a
few of these states there has been
no state legislation prohibiting
Sunday amusements or trade, but
ordinances corresponding to Sun
day blue laws have been passed by
many of the municipalities in such
states.
The statute which is most COM
mon in the different states is that
which prohibits the carrying on Of
business or trade on the Sabbath,
excepting works of charity or ne
cessity. In most instances the
works of charity or necessity are
enumerated and there is a provi-
sion, as n general rule, that the
statute shall not be so construed
as to affect persons who conscien-
tiously observe the seventh day OF
| the week instead of the first as
| the Sabbath.
In Indiana where agitators for
the enforcement of the blue-laws
have been especially active recent
| ~, there is only one statute which
might be considered as blue law.
| This state relates to Sabbath
breaking and its provisions have
been interpreted in various ways
by law enforcement officers in the
different localities
The law provides a fine of 81 to
I $40 for persons over IA years Of
age who are found on Sunday
"rioting, hunting, fishing, quar-
reling, at common labor or en-
gagged in their usual avocations."
Persons engaged in works of char
ity or necessity are exempted from
the provision.
Bah Games Permitted.
Baseball games are permitted
between the hours of l and 6 p.
m, provided they are held not less
than 1000 feet from any estab-
lished house of worship or perma-
nent church structure used for re-
ligious purposes. The baseball bill
was passed in 1909 as amendment
to the act regarding observance Of
the sabbath. Three men represent
ing the National Reform associa-
ton have been touring Indiana for
several weeks discussing Sabbath
observance.
An injunction obtained by the
Princeton, Ind, Law and Order
league for bidding an amusement
company to run Sunday picture
shows was upheld by the circuit
court. In South Bend recently
following failure to observe an or
der issued by the mayor that dane
ing halls should be closed on sun
day, a jury found that Sunday
dance hall was not a necessity anC
the proprietor was guilty of violat.
ing the law.
An old Minnesota statute prohib.
its on Sunday, sporting events, eX-
ercises and shows when they seri.
ously interrupt the repose and re-
ligious liberty of the community.
The law also specifies that al
trades, manufactures and sale Of
merchandise, except works Of
charity and necessity are prohib
tied on that day. An amendment
however, permits Sunday baseball
between the hours of l and p
m. and ruling of the suprem,
court permits the theaters in tina
state to operate on Sunday provid
ed they do not seriously hamper o.
interrupt the quietness of the Sab
2 bath.
-. Sunday Business Banned.
South Dakota also has one Law
i, which bans all business on Sunday
except that which is "absolutel!
, necessary" Attorney Genera
Payne has ruled that this law il
defective and cannot be enforced
and a bill has been prepared to b.
6 submitted to the state legislator,
which will legalize Sunday base
ball. Two sets of bills also are be
, ing prepared, one looking to tn,
) repeal of the present blue law anC
, the other providing a new set o
-. blue laws. Only bills prohibitin;
Sunday baseball and Sunday NOV
a les are expected to come before the
, present session of the legislature.
Strictly speaking, there are nj
q blue laws on the Missouri statut,
books. There are few laws which
might be so construed, ACCORDING
to Attorney General Jesse w
. Barrett, but these are what are
known as dead letter" laws and
are not enforced. Only one blue
law. a bill to prohibit the opera.
ton of theaters on Sunday has
been Introduced at the present
/, legislative session.
Iowa has the prevalent blue law
providing a fine for persons who
on Sunday are engaged in carry
ing firearms, dancing, hunting
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