The New York herald., 1921-01-20
BLUE LAW CHIEFS
AIM At DhNFpfTI
Sabbath Defenders .~acA IL
Dany With Their Programme
Of Reform.
GR0CERS ON THEIR LIST
Sunday Newspapers Come In
for Share Of Uplifters'
Attention.
GROCERS ON THEIR LIST
Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Ihan {

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Albany. Jan. I9.
The blue law advocates are on the
Job. Defenders of the Sabbath and
uplifters of the States morals-a little
army of valiant reformers-have ar
rived with their white banners flying
and are ready for the assault on
Capitol Hill.
The Rev. John Ferguson heads the
band. He is State secretary of the
Lords Day Alliance. and, as one OF
DR.. Bowlby's chief aids, is head of the
blue law campaign in this State. The
Rev. Mr.. Ferguson declares emphati-
cally that his Is not blue law cam
paign. He does not like the term
blue law" What it is, he says, Is
merely a movement to protect the
toilers from being forced to work on
| Sunday
The reformers are not going to hurl
| their whole programme at the Legisla-
ture in one batch. They plan TO proceed
slowly and skilfully. beginning with two
or three proposed reforms and then
gradually working along to others as
| they see the opening. Some of their
| bills are now being prepared for intro
duction at an early date.
| Here are two reforms" they viii seek
| irst TO accomplish:
Repeal the Sunday motion picture law.
closing all theatres on the Sabbath.
stop professional baseball games on
| Sunday.
| Dr. Ferguson said that his organiza-
ton would join with the Retail Grocers
Association to close up all grocery stores
on Sunday. These stores are now per-
mitted to remain open until 10 a. NJ. on
| Sunday.
| The movement may extend TO drug
stores. Mr.. Ferguson said that many Of
these stores have become regular depart
ment stores and sell anything and every
thing on Sundays. So far the alliance
has no legislation under way TO close
the drug stores, but It Is expected In
| time.
Tho sale OF Sunday newspapers is
occupying the time Of many boys who
might better spend their Sabbath at
church. IN the opinion OF the moral lead
ers. They are going to advocate first
that the newsdealers work only half .
day on Sunday.
Evidently the wrong lies In selling the
newspapers on Sunday. but so far II Is
not regarded as crime TO read the
Sunday newspapers. Mr.. Ferguson ex-
pressed the opinion that the Sunday
newspapers might be printed on Satur-
day afternoon and he was asked whether
the Legislature could enact a measure
to set forward the world news happen
nss OF Saturday night TO early satur-
day afternoon to facilitate the print
ing OF the papers
On the important question whether the
blue code would make II a misdemeanor
10 play golf or lawn tennis the alliance
! has definite views.
I'VE do not intend 10 try 20 stop these
things by legislation" he said. that Is
a matter Of education. Our purpose is
to enable as many toilers as possible to
rest on sunday"
Tho blue law advocates WIN find plenty
OF opposition in their legislative activi-
ties. The crystallizlng Of sentiment
| against them is shown in the charter
ing of anti-blue law ORGANIZATIONS at the
Secretary OF States office. The second
one In the last few weeks was incorpo-
rated to-day.