The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-03-24
VIOLA CITIZENS !
OPPOSE SUNDAY Law
IN COMMUNICATION CALL ATa|
TENTION TO FACTS SUPPORT-a|
ING HEIR VIEWS.

=
. munication from Viola signed by !
number of citizens of that seatio,n
who oppose the proposed enactmenz
and enforcement of laws which man,
contend are calculated to take tho
sun out of Sunday" Their commu-
nication follows:
A Protest Against Sunday Legisj
To the Editor:
According to The avOwed purpose
of number of prominent organizat
tions in the United States, there is tc,
be wholesale enforcement and EN-.
| actment of laws rspecting the observ-
ance of Sunday. This is to be accoIn1
| plished by cooperation and combina-
tion of the several interested parties
and by way of agitation and POLITICAL
| pres sure.
The program is scheduled for ihe
coming year 1921. Already all but
two of the states Of this country have1
Sunday laws on the statute hooks
The two states holding out against,
this form of legislation are Califor-
mia and Oregon. Against these two'
states the combination will particu-'
larly operate, yet the reformers in
our own midst are working hand in
hand to get more drastic laws for the
state and ultimately nationwide
law.
This plan will also include the Dis
trict of Columbia where no Sunday
law exists. AS one report reads, "a
bill has been prepared for submission
to congress for strict Sunday observ-
ance in the District of Columbia, and
particular attention will be given to
California and Oregon, where, DR..
Bowlby declared there are few laws
governing Sunday activities. In other
states efforts will be made to
strengthen existing laws"
The purpose of the bill to secure
strict Sunday law for the District
of Columbia is stated thus: "The
District of Columbia Sunday bill is
but an entering wedge for the adj
option of a federal constitutional
enforcing nationwide 4,
Sabbath observance"
The foregoing facts, as reported by
the press everywhere, show clearly
that the attempt will be made this
year to legislate Sunday observance
into the fundamental law of the land
the constitution of the United
States.
According to reports which we
have before us, there have been
number of demonstrations against
the Blue Sunday" as it is called.
Also articles have been written In or
position to it.
1t seems fitting that strong eff
fort should be made against this in
vasion of the principles of liberty so
long enjoyed by this government and
it's people. 1t is we'll that we enter
into public protest as early as pos
sible against this thing. We there
fore wish to express our hearty dis
approval of the proposed measures
ooking toward the establishment of
5unday-keeping by law.
The thing is wrong in principle. 1t
places one class of religionists in an
oppressive legal standing above all
,ther classes-religious and nom re-
igious. This arrangement always
'esults in persecution; and we have
he awful history of the Ozark Ages"
Is an example Of this tyranny.
The proposed amendment to the
Constitution is contrary to all the
of American liberty ana
he very Constitution itself, which
ays:
Congress shall make no law re-
pecting an establishment of religion
II prohibiting the free exercise
hereof Sunday is an establish
nent of religion Any Sunday law,
therefore,, anywhere in the United IS
unconstitutional.
A national law of this nature can
ot be made without changing our ma
ional Constitution-an do we wish
0 do that?
Recognizing the principles involv-
d, the trainers of our State Bills OF
lights incorporated this statement
4 Article I, Section a: "The free
xercise and enjoyment of religious
rofession and worship, without dis
limination or preference shall for
yer be guaranteed in this state"
1t so happens that in this state
1ere are several thousand people
tho hold diverse views regarding
ne day of rest, and it would be a
iscrimination against them in favor
f another class, should California
lbmit to the imposition of Sunday
w.
Believing that Sunday laws are re-
gious legislation, therefore absolute
wrong, we, the undersigned, desire
register our serious protest again.
any such legislation.
G. w. JORDAN
L. A. BUSWELL
J. G. GERMER
F. j. SCHOEPFLIN