Note and Comment by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 9, 1905

Note and Comment

By Editor

THE Northwestern Christian Advocate says, in discussing the position taken by Mr. J. M. Harlan, a candidate for mayor of Chicago, in favor of open saloons on Sunday:—

The open saloon on Sunday is one of the greatest perils which face workingmen. It is breaking down the sacredness of Sunday as a day of rest from labor. When saloons are permitted to be open on Sunday as on week-days, Sunday will become a day for work as are week-days.

We have certainly nothing to say in favor of an open saloon on Sunday or any other day, though the alleged connection between open saloons and labor is not obvious to us. We have always regarded the saloon as the foe of labor, generally speaking. But is that not a greatly mistaken policy which would have the saloon, which is by nature an outlaw, clothe itself with an appearance of respectability by “keeping the Sabbath,” and thus pose as a law-abiding institution, entitled to the protection of the law?