The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-01
THE PROPOSED SUNDAY ORDINANCE

THE PROPOSED SUNDAY ORDINANCE
The Times-News has been requested by
a number of citizens to voice its views On
the question now before City Council, the
question of a so-called liberal Sunday for
Hendersonville. In view of the fact that
the final decision of Council is to be made
at an early date, it is impossible to enter
into a discussion of the matter before the
decision of the peoples representatives at
the city hall is recorded. 1t would require
a dozen long newspaper articles to fully
cover the vital points of this fundamental
religious and moral issue, which is so IN
tricately involved with the lives and inter-
ests of the people that it becomes neces-
sary in any discussion of it to examine It's
social, cultural and economic aspects, Also
1t may be said that this issue will not be
settled at the city hall, no matter what the
decision of Council may be. Having arisen
in the way it has in this community, it IS
due to be the subject of prolonged discus
sion and more or less bitter controversy
and contention, in the future. There will
be ample opportunity for newspaper dis
cussion in the future and The Times-NeWs'
columns are open to both the advocates
and the opponents of an "open" or COM
mercialized Sunday.
AS far as the position Of the editor of
The Times-News is concerned, if anybody
is interested in knowing what it is, it may
be said that this editor, last week, APP
peared before Council to oppose the adop-
ton of the Sunday ordinance, and to re-
quest that body of the peoples represen-
tatives to give those citizens opposed to
the proposition ample opportunity to be
heard before final action is taken.
The proposed ordinance is coming UP
for third reading at an early date. At that
time opponents of the ordinance will have
the opportunity to, be heard through peti-
lions which have been prepared and are
being circulated. The best course for those
who oppose the ordinance, both voters and
taxpayers who are not voters, is to get
their names on one of these petitions.
The Times-News has no idea as to how
far the final action of Council will be de-
termined by what is ascertained as to COM
munity sentiment, but those opposing the
ordinance have the same moral and legal
rights in the premises as the friends of the
ordinance. No opponent of the PROPOSE
ton should hesitate to express his or her
views by petition, or otherwise. The issue
is one of great and far reaching import.
1t is not a personal matter between cit;-
zens of the community. 1t is a matter of
public policy of vital consequence to the
future of the community and section.
The Times-News believes that Council
desires to determine as accurately as pos
sible the public sentiment of Henderson,
vile IN regard to this issue. Council may
not act in accord with ascertained ma,
jority sentiment in the final decision. That
is Councils prerogatiye. In appearing be-
fore Council this editor took the position
that sentiment had not been fully and &C
curately and satisfactorily ascertained.
So far, it seems to The Times-News thai
the expression ofSsentiment is about fifty
fifty; but it must be taken into considera
ton that those favoring the Sunday ordi
nance have presented a petition contain
ing few more than FIVE hundred names
to Council, while much of the opposition
has been expressed in form not so cor
crete. Nsa
On the one hand we have petition wit
500 agnatweSS favoring the ordinance. yot
the other hand we have the ministers q