Putnam patriot., 1925-06-05
Putting Lid on Sunday
 Selling By St0rpkeepers
Prosecuting Attorney Tells Mer- chants Just What Law AL
 lows Sold on Sabbath
Proprietor. Say Other Merchants Ar>
 Behind Move

Behind Move
 The edict has gone forth from the office of Prosecuting Attorney Erie H. Johnson that storekeepers who keep their places of business open on Sum day must obey the law and only sell such merchandise as the law allows. I Last Friday night the warning was sent out in the form of a typewrittea notice which read as follows: ''You can sell on Sunday;
 I Milk. bakery products. fruit, ice. ice creaIa. confectionery. non-alcoholic beverages and drinks, tobacco in any form. smokers supplies, newspapers and other periodicals, drugs and auto- mobile supplies. and no other goods can be sold or exposed for sale on Sunday under penalty of S50.'
 Think Complaint Made
 After learning Of the notice being given a Patriot reporter said to the prosecutor: '.l don't suppose you ara saying what is behind this mover" To this there was no reply. number of the storekeepers were interviewed rs- garding the situation. and nearly all expressed the opinion that the strict enforcement of the law was brought about upon complaint of several mer- chants who do not keep stores open on Sunday.
 All of those interviewed expressed their purpose to obey the law and stated that they did not sell anything except the articles enumerated in the notice, last Sunday. The notices vera served by the police, part of them lass Friday night and part early in tho week.
 Trade Out of Town
 One of the largest dealers affected by the order explained how 1t worked out with him last Suraay, He said that he kept open anyway for the saia of gas0lene and oil and had been in tho habit of selling other wares when call- ed for. Last Sunday one of his cus- toners returned from spending tha holiday out of town, and immediately came to the store Co purchase supplies for his home. He was told that tha articles he wanted could not be sold. The man replied that he would jump m his car and go Co Dayville to make the purchases and did so. He also said that he would tell others to do tha same. II k understood that consider able trade went to the nearby village during the day. The customers do not take kindly to being told that they cannot buy what they want. and arc prone Co blame the storekeeper from withholding his wares in accordancs with the order of the officers.
 Blue Law Recalled
 The notice as given the storckeepers is just as the statute sets forth specih- oally what may be sold on Sunday. It is much broader and less "blue" than the old blue law. It is we'll remem- bered how some eighteen years ago a group of citizens known as the Civic League set out to enforce the Sunday law. The result was the closing of everything tight for few weeks. Ina then prosecuting attorney even forbid the city to use it's sprinkling cart, and representative of a large daily pa- per was arrested three times for dis- posing of papers. Several newsdeaiers went over the boundary line of an ad- joining town aud there purchases of Sunday newspapers could be made.
 Will Cover Stock
 The stofekrcpeTs have also been told that they must cover up the mer- ehAndise that does not come within the list of sslahle goods. Some sns=- tion whether they can legally be mads to do this, but rather than make . test case of the matter, will cover their wares as suggested to them.
 One of the larger dealers, when asked if the officers were around hts place of business on Sunday to note whether or not he was obeying the law, said they were not. He added. however, that several strangers ap- peared and asked to buy forbidden merchandise, but were refused. Among those served with the notices were K. N. Fisher & Son. Joseph Ma rion, James Barnes, Emile Marion. Felix Lizotte, Peter Russett. Lom- bardo's Fruit Store, Giraca & Son, the yadnais store, and three small stores in the Manhasset village.