The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-08-18
Letters To The
Editor
Continued from page .wo)

wrong or vicious in these last
named sports being INDUCED in
c. Sunday. Our great preSi-
dent" was wont to fish on Sun
dav and there is nothing so pro-
vocative of profanity and so much
calculated to cause one to break
one of the ten commandments as
to have a large fish break from
the line Just as one is about to
pull him into the boat. There
seemed to be no general condem-
nation by the millions of Chris
tan voters last November on such
Sabbath breaking"
Moving pictures are not nahum
in Sc; neither are they nahum
prohibita in most communities re-
CARELESS of the day Of the week
upon which they are shown. |
have seen them many times used
in churches to advance the cause
of religion. Hundreds of thou
sands of good Christian people
throughout the country worship
at the church of their preference
during the morning of the Sab
bath and attend a clean, elevating
and instructive motion picture
the same afternoon or evening.
Such conduct is not against the
rules, doctrines and discipline of
many churches. If some of our
churches do not approve of such
conduct on the part of its men,
bers, and believe that one who is
so sinful as to visit his neighbors,
cook or prepares the home meal,
90 sight seeing" to view the
marvellous and enchanting noun
tain scenery carved by the Grand
Architect of the Universe, or at
tends a moving picture on Sun
day, is headed straight for perdi-
ton. this is no reason why others
of different views be not allowed
to live their own lives and wor-
ship God ACCORDING to the dictates
of their own conscience. No class
of people in a free democracy
should try to fore their views or
standards of living on other
classes. No people or class of
people should seek or be allowed,
the right to compel other people
to use the same code of morals or
society conventions as to them
seem best. If such oppression and
tyranny is permitted under the
force of law, a large portion of
our people are denied their in
alienable rights Of ''life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness"
This is country largely of del
egated authority. Members Of
congress, members of the state
legislatures and city commission
erS when elected by popular suf-
frage carry the mandate of the
voters to administer their office
with impartiality, industry, in
tegrity and to the best of their
ability. 1t is not expected that
members of congress will conduct
a national referendum on pro
posed law before enacting it. 1t
is not expected that the members
of our state legislatures will sub
nit to a vote of the people every
law they intend to pass before
passing it, 1t should not be re-
ouired of the city commissioners
that they ring the door bells of
the citizens and ask their opinion
before passing city ordinance.
If proposed laws and ordinances
must first be submitted to the
people, there is no use of electing
public officials. We should just
call "town meetings" and let the
multitude under the whip and
spur of zealots and demagogues,
write the laws to govern us.
While there is no moral issue
involved in the passing of this
ordinance, ill advisedly criticized,
we believe, by some of our well
meaning citizens, there is nonthe-
less a great public interest at
stake. 1t concerns the welfare Of
every business concern and every
business man. 1t concerns the
welfare of every farmer, working
man and citizen living in this vi
cinity. Do we want to keep our
tourist business and increase that
business or do we want to turn
this business and money away
from our doors? Do we want to
encourage new and additional
citizenship so that we may sell
our produce, our lands and bust
ness holdings, or do we want
business and financial stagna-
ton? The summer tourists and
visitors of Hendersonville are
like the winter tourists and visi-
tors of Florida cities. They will
not bide with US long; neither
will they make investments, buy
property and build homes in a
place where they are required to
spend their lives in a religious
straight jacket and be deprived
from living their lives in their
own way and enjoying clean
amusements that appeal to them,
ON any day of the week. THE
SABBATH WAS MADE FOR
MAN AND NOT MAN FOR THE
! SABBATH"
The community owes these in
telligent, progressive, conscienti-
Gus, fearless public officials q
debt of gratitude and a vote of
thanks for passing this city ordi-
nance which means so much ia
this community, its growth and
future welfare. Let US give them