Ste. Genevieve Herald
Ste. Geneveive, Mo.
Saturday, July 14, 1883

TIT FOR TAT

The saloon keepers of St. Louis threaten that, if the Sunday law is
enforced against them, they will retaliate by enforcing the law against all
other violators of it on that day. It may not be generally known - we are
morally certain that our Pros. Atty. does not know, because he has most
solemnly assured the public that he prosecutes the saloons only from a sense
of duty, because his oath compels him to enforce all the laws on the statute
book - that there is a law on the statue book which forbids all kinds of
labor or business on Sunday. Under it, it is unlawful to sell ice cream,
lemonade or any other refreshment; the barbershops, newspapers, clerks' and
lawyers' offices, the photograph galleries, the street railways and other
railroads, the livery stables, etc. would have to quit business. Even
baseball, croquet, lawn tennis or a social game of euchre or draw poker is
forbidden. A man can not black his own boots on Sunday, or hitch up his
horse or have his servant do it for him without laying himself liable to a
fine. Below we give the sections of the law applicable:
Section 1578. Every person who shall either labor himself, or compel or
permit his apprentice or servant, or any other person under his charge or
control, to labor or perform any work other than the household offices of
daily necessity, or other work of necessity or charity, or who shall be
guilty of hunting game or shooting on the first day of the week, commonly
called Sunday, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Section 1579. The last section shall not extend to any person who is a
member of a religious society, by whom any other but the first day of the
week is observed, as a Sabbath, so that he observes Sabbath, nor to prohibit
any ferryman from crossing passengers on any day of the week.
Section 1580. Every person who shall be convicted of horse-racing,
cock-fighting or playing cards or games of any kind, on the first day of the
week, commonly called Sunday, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
fined not less than $50.
Section 1581. Every person who shall expose to sale any goods, wares, or
merchandise, or shall keep open any ale or porter house, grocery or tippling
shop, or shall sell or retail any fermented or distilled liquor on the first
day of the week, commonly called Sunday, shall, on conviction, be adjudged
guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not exceeding $50.
Section 1582. The last section shall not be construed to prevent the
sale of any drugs or medicines, provisions or articles of immediate
necessity.
We most respectfully call the attention of the Pros. Atty. to these laws
and suggest to him that they are the laws which he takes an oath to enforce,
and that he is as much compelled to enforce them as he is to enforce the law
against selling a glass of beer on Sunday, and if he does not proceed to put
them in force he must stand convicted of being false to his oath of office
according to his own showing. What is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the
gander.

*****

THE SUNDAY CLAUSE IN THE DOWNING BILL

There has been a good deal of consternation created by the Sunday clause
in the new high license amongst the saloon keepers in St. Louis and other
large cities, where the saloons have been accustomed to keep open on Sunday,
and regard it as their best day for business. Now there is very little
difference between the new and the old law in regard to the keeping open on
Sunday. Under the old law the least penalty upon conviction of a dramshop
keeper for selling on Sunday was $40; under the new law with substantially
the same provisions, the least penalty is $50. The old section 1581, for
the selling on Sunday, which has always been so successfully invoked by our
Prosecuting Attorney for the purpose of enriching his bank account, still
remains on the statute book the same as before.

*****

VALUABLE AND DISINTERESTED
DOCUMENT

AD PERPETUAM REI MEMORIAM

This is to certify that the Prosecuting Attorney of Ste. Genevieve Co. is
personally known to me, and that it gives me great pleasure to publish to
the world that he brings "much honesty, faithfulness and energy to the
discharge of his duties as Prosecuting Attorney," and that, in fact, he is a
gentleman, a scholar, and master of seven different languages - indeed, if
he knew a little of law, he would know a little of everything - would to God
that Joe. ERNST was half as good a teacher.
Given under my hand and seal at Ste. Genevieve, Mo., on the 23 day of
June, 1883.
(signed) VALLEE HAROLD
Editor Fair Play & Pros.
Atty.

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