Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-01-30
n. Y. CHRIST IAN
ADVOCATE GIVES ITS
VIEW Of BLUE LAWS
RELIGIOUS PUBLICATION STATES
THOSE STANDING FOR OBsERy.
ANCE NOT UNDERSTOOD.

The following article Is reprinted
from the New York Christian Adyo
cate. In a spirit n fairness. 20 that the
"other side" may have n day no COURT
1T does not require an exceptional
power ~ penetration To discover the
reasons and the interests which DE- hack
Of the tumultous agitation against tho
revival ~ the so-callcd blue laws
which relate o. sunday observance. Yet,
we dare say. many good people have
been deceived. The newspapers have
told them that various agents and ngen.
Giles 81 moral reform. including some
which were effective In closing the
saloons. were laying plans 20 wage
a similar campaign for the enactment
Of national legislation reducing the per
Missile work and play an sunday O.
such strait dimensions NJ 10 warrant
n comparison with the narrowcst Purl.
tan regime The newspapers with few
marked exceptions. have systematically
enlarged upon every shred of evidence
which would support this theory. and
have smothercd. ridculod OF misrcp
resented every attempt ON the part Of
the friends ~ the American Sabbath
% make fair statement ~ their
purposes. Naturally tho promoters o.
Sunday sports Sunday prizefighis. and
Sunday iheatricals and films have joln.
ed the hue and cry From some uniden.
titled source funds have been available
20 spread false Impressions concerning
this matter. In this city. and perhaps
In others. floats have parnded the
streets barring representations 81 per
sons In seventeenth century garb i'm
prisoned In cages. standing IN the pli.
lory or sitting fast In the stocks. as
n punishment for some now ludicrous
breach ~ the ancient blue.law code.
Whence has come all this concert.
ed endeavor 20 show that n fresh Ne
sauii was being planned against per
sonal liberty7'
THE answer II obvious II II the
work 81 the liquor interests. and thos'
who sympathize with them In their
purpose OF overthrowing the Elrh.
tenth Amendment BY weakening its
support In the minds OF the people.
THE reasoning II simple. The pub.
lie has been repeatedly told that Pro.
hibition was Slipped over. against the
popular will. by a skillful organized
fanaticism. The public i not yet con.
WINGED ~ this and IL strongly inclln.
cd 20 the belief that Prohibition il
working well wherever u u given a
chance II Is the strategy 81 the liquor
people. therefore, 90 make Prohibition
odioua hy suggesting Co the ptfbN
that thu han on beer and whiskey was
only the beginning ~ a rlgid system
Of legal regulation of conduct which
designed eventually To- prohibit the use
Of tolacco. and every form 81 non.
religious sabbath activity. n they can
persuade the public that In accepting
Prohibition they were opening the way
20 this train 81 personally restrictive
and Irritating legislation they are con.
fldcnt that the voters viii reverse their
verdict and will support Congress In
granting the desired relief In regard 20
the alcoholic content % beverages.
I'VE who believe In Prohibition mus,
do nothing 10 help its enemies win.
however astute their methods. We must
not let them divide US by raising an.
other issue. And we must not compro.
mise or weaken In our opposition 90 the
now desperate enemy. II IL life-and'
death struggle. and the final outcome
IL still In the balance"