Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 311, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1918 — SUNDAY BALL GAINING FAVOR [ARTICLE]

SUNDAY BALL GAINING FAVOR

“Criminals” Arrested for Arranging Game on Sabbath Day Dismissed by Presiding Justice. Sunday ball is making progress In New York. Recently a number of men were arres'ted for arranging a Sunday game between independent teams. It was shown that the spectators paid for score cards. The cards were on a table at the entrance to the park and the fans could take or leave them. When the case came up for a hearing before the court, the justice presiding, whose name was Collins, distnissed the “criminals,” saying that if a strict liberal interpretation of the statute were to be given, it would prevent any lib-erty-loving citizen from indulging in any recreation on Sunday. “It would prevent hunting, golfing, fishing and the indulgence in athletics. If a boy were to play ball on the one day he was' off, this law would make him a criminal, as would be a fisherman and those that play golf. I cannot conceive, personally, that there was a time in the history of the state of New York when those Inclined to pass blue law’s were so blue that they would deny all these pleasures, which are of themselves Innocent and harmless.”