SUNDAY ENFORCEMENT ITEMS.
THE merchants of Glen Roy, Ohio, were recently notified by the prosecuting attorney "to do no business on Sunday." AN agreement "to close their drug-stores on Sunday, except for the filling of bona fide prescriptions from physicians," has been signed by all the druggists of Bessemer, Ala. AT Walla Walla, Wash., on February 10, County Attorney Wilson "served notice on all proprietors of cigar stands, book stores, and confectionery parlors that if their doors were not closed on Sundays he would file complaints against them." The druggists were also notified not to dispose of any article except drugs. This action was taken in response to the demand of the liquor dealers of the city, that the Sunday law be enforced to the letter, and that all places of business coming under the scope of the law be compelled to obey it;" and this demand was in retaliation for the action of the city council in causing the saloons to close on Sunday. A MEASURE taking Sunday baseball and theaters from under the restrictions of the Sunday law and giving city councils the power to regulate these amusements, known as the Adler bill, was "stamped to death" in the lower house of the Ohio Legislature on February 15. "The right of the author to be heard on the measure was denied, an unusual procedure," and on a motion for its indefinite postponement, made the moment it was called up, the measure was rejected by a vote of 84 to 8. Immediately following this action of the house, a statement was issued on the authority of Governor Pattison, who has taken such a decided stand for the enforcement of the Sunday laws, declaring that "the defeat of the Adler bill by a vote of 84 to 8 in the House of Representatives, which measure sought to interfere with the American Sabbath and existing Sunday laws, may be considered an accurate reflection of public sentiment on the subject, and an indorsement of the governor's attitude." The governor "insists that the Sunday laws shall be obeyed to the letter," and it is even rumored that he will call out the state militia if necessary to prevent Sunday baseball playing in the big cities this spring and summer. Evidently there are to be lively times in the Sunday-enforcement line in Ohio. "ANY enforcement of Sunday as the Sabbath, or a religious institution, is contrary to the principles of our government; for religion is a personal matter." Such is the declaration of Mr. Karl A. M. Scholz, of the Independent Citizens' Union of Maryland, which organization is attempting to secure the repeal of the "Sabbath" laws of that state. Mr. Scholz declares that these laws do not reflect the opinion of the time, and are obsolete. And correctly does he affirm that "hypocrisy and corruption are fostered by these ancient statutes, openly and avowedly enacted as compulsory church-attendance laws, which men generally disregard, but have not the moral courage to repeal." He also declares that the low and degrading Sunday resorts for liquor and their consequences "are the direct outgrowth of our present unholy Puritan 'Sabbath laws.'" IN resolutions adopted at the annual meeting of the Christian Endeavor Unions of Springfield, Mass., and vicinity, held on March 13, the members of the Massachusetts Legislature from that section of the state were urged "to help to secure the passage of the bill recently introduced in the interest of Sabbath observance. The resolutions were presented by the treasurer of the United Society of Christian Endeavor, who explained "that the bill was to prevent fake benevolent schemes from desecrating the Sabbath by holding their unholy gatherings and amusements on that day, particularly in the theaters." It was set forth in the resolutions that they were the expression of "seven hundred Christian Endeavors, representing thirty societies in Springfield and vicinity." MINNESOTA newspapers are noting that the new code of that state which went into effect on March 15 "changes the Sunday law in that persons of certain faiths who, according to their religious belief, observe Saturday or some other day than Sunday as the Sabbath, may resume their usual work and business on Sunday." The Owatonna Journal says this change "will be a great boon to many of the Hebrew people who conduct stores and who worship on Saturday," and that thereby "religious freedom is provided by the new code" for the observers of other days than Sunday. It seems, then, that hitherto religious freedom has not been granted in this matter to such citizens in Minnesota. FIFTY of the theatrical people arrested at Toledo, Ohio, on March 11 on the charge of violating the Sunday law in connection with theatrical performances were tried in a justice's court on March 14, and "a fine of $1.00 was assessed on each actor and actress." Immediately, on warrants "secured by the Law and Order League of the Federation of Churches," all were brought before the city court and there "bound over to the Probate Court" for trial on the same charge. It appears that two sets of warrants were secured, and that those from the justice's court were issued on complaint of the theater managers themselves, who evidently expected thereby to outwit the church people in the matter, knowing that only a small fine would be imposed in the justice's court. But it seems that the church people want to have a sorer penalty inflicted. Church bigotry is always characterized by unchristian vindictiveness.