Sunday legislation | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Roosevelt-Keane mass meeting

Program for a mass meeting “In the Interests of the Enforcement of Laws and a Proper Respect for the Lord’s Day.” Speakers include Bishop John J. Keane, president of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and New York City Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt. Program includes copies of the invitations extended to Roosevelt and Keane, proceedings of the meeting, and the text of the speeches.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1895-09-11

Big dish but mighty little turkey

The Tammany Tiger sits at a table, holding a knife and fork, and crying over the tiny turkey labeled “Patronage” on a platter labeled “20,000 Majority for Tammany.” Next to the platter is a mug labeled “No Sunday Beer.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-11-27

“In the interest of labor and morality”

On the left, many businessmen and women appear in stocks and pillories for such offenses as serving guests wine on Sunday, “for shaving on Sunday,” “for delivering ice on Sunday,” “for selling a glass of beer on Sunday,” “for blacking shoes on Sunday,” and “for working the growler on Sunday.” A notice states, “Behold the Punishment of the Wicked Sabbath Breaker. Let All Evil Doers Beware.” On the right is a group of New York legislators dressed as Puritans, including Lieutenant Governor Charles T. “Saxton,” Thomas C. “Platt,” Jacob M. “Patterson,” Hamilton “Fish,” Frederick S. “Gibbs,” Warner “Miller,” Governor Levi P. “Morton,” Chauncey M. “Depew,” and Jacob S. “Fassett.” Caption: The glorious revival of blue Sundays, stocks and pillories, that our good Republican Puritans are trying to bring about.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-10-16

“Peanut Dave, the little defender”

David B. Hill sits on a large pail labeled “Growler” that is lying on its side, spilling the contents. Hill is using a rolled up paper labeled, “Let the Workingman Have His Sunday Beer” to swat a bat labeled “Blue Law Fanatic.” Caption: Here’s a splendid chance to make political capital, and he’s not missing it.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-08-07

A rational law, or – Tammany

The owner of a wine and beer store puts up a sign that states, “As long as it is the law it shall be enforced, Theo. Roosevelt.” A man representing Tammany Hall implies that if Tammany men were running the government, there might be ways to get around the laws without having to repeal them. Caption: Tammany–Goin’ to wait till dem reformers repeal dat law, are yer? Put me back and you won’t need to repeal! See?

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-07-24

Father Knickerbocker’s next job

Father Knickerbocker, a symbolic figure for New York City, tosses an old man with a long beard out of a building labeled “N.Y. City.” Papers labeled “Anti Local Option, Blue Laws, Hayseed Legislation, [and] Anti Home Rule Laws” fall out of his hat labeled “Hayseed Legislator.” Sitting on the ground outside the building is Richard Croker, the Tammany Hall boss, rubbing his head. The State House labeled “Albany” is visible in the distance. Caption: He got rid of Tammany rule, and now, if he gets rid of Hayseed rule, he will be ready for home rule.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-08-28

“Every one for himself!”

Two dogs stand on a table. One labeled “Platt” has its front paws on a platter labeled “Patronage” on which is a piece of meat labeled “Raines Bill.” The other dog wearing a collar labeled “Croker” is looking wide-eyed at Platt.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-04-22

He never could stand prosperity

A “Hayseed” legislator wearing a hat labeled “N.Y. Republican Party” sits in a stupor on a large jug labeled “Raines Law,” holding a large wine bottle labeled “Hayseed Legislation.” He is slumped against a wall labeled “Albany,” with a bottle of alcohol at his feet labeled “Progressive Inheritance Tax,” and a bottle in his coat pocket labeled “Black’s Civil Service Bill.” The figure may represent Frank Swett Black, governor of New York. A man wearing a cap labeled “Tammany” is pulling papers labeled “Greater New York Patronage” from inside the coat of the legislator.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-05-26

Mrs. Partington outdone

A woman labeled “Blue Law Enforcement” stands on the shore of the ocean, using a broom labeled “Raids on Gambling Houses” to sweep puddles labeled “Police Graft” and “Gambling House Profits” back into the ocean as a wave labeled “The Tendency of Man to Gamble” rolls toward shore. Caption: Municipal Reformer — I’ll push this ocean back if it takes me a thousand years!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-08-21

Where we stand

Series of editorials on liquor sales, wage earners, labor unions, and the two and a half cent coin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-09

We grow wiser as we grow older

A large female figure labeled “Enlightenment” pushes open doors labeled “Pan-American Exposition” and knocks out of the way an old woman labeled “Sabbatarian Fanatic” and a man labeled “Sabbatarian Bigot” who were attempting to prevent the Exposition from opening on Sunday. Caption: The managers of the Buffalo Exposition have decided to open it on Sunday.

Comments and Context

One of the controversies surrounding the 1892 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where Puck Magazine had its own pavilion, was Sunday operation. Traditional Sabbatarians argued that such fairs be closed on the Lord’s Days, but many people petitioned for Sunday openings, principally on the grounds that working people, when six-day work weeks were yet common, could only visit with their families on Sundays.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Letter from Frank Harper to S. Janette Reynolds

In response to S. Janette Reynolds’s request, Frank Harper summarizes Theodore Roosevelt’s views on the temperance movement. Roosevelt supports the initiative and referendum which will allow a majority of each state to decide on temperance. He is opposed to the shipping of liquor into states that have prohibited it as he favors the “enforcement of every law on the statute book.” As an example, Harper points to Roosevelt’s enforcement of the blue laws when he was the Police Commissioner of New York City.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-10-02

Letter from John A. Chamberlain to Theodore Roosevelt

John A. Chamberlain asks Theodore Roosevelt to express his support for upholding and enforcing The Sunday Law in Cleveland, Ohio. A report from the Baptist Brotherhood of Cleveland found two thousand saloons remain open on Sundays despite the law, and the mayor, Herman C. Baehr, and Director of Public Safety in Cleveland have not addressed these transgressions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-22

Letter from Walter Gibon to Theodore Roosevelt

Walter Gibon asks Theodore Roosevelt if, prior to his upcoming speech there, he would speak a word of encouragement to the Christians of Pasadena, California, who are working to prevent Sunday sports being allowed in their town.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-21

Letter from Seth B. Strong to Theodore Roosevelt

Postmaster Seth B. Strong sends Theodore Roosevelt a letter from the City Pastors Association of Houston, Texas. While they are not asking that Roosevelt comment directly on the effort in Houston to close post offices on Sundays, they feel that it is in line with Roosevelt’s previous addresses on ‘Civic Righteousness.’ Strong tells Roosevelt of the pastors’ plans to speak to their congregations on the subject on March 19.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-09

Letter from E. Sinclair Smith to Theodore Roosevelt

E. Sinclair Smith, of the Houston City Pastors’ Association, welcomes Theodore Roosevelt to the city. The Pastors’ Association and the Post Office are about to begin a campaign to advocate for closing post office buildings on Sunday, and Smith asks if Roosevelt would consider speaking a few words on behalf of this cause.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-07

Letter from Q. N. Funk to Theodore Roosevelt

Q. N. Funk asks President Roosevelt if during his time as New York City Police Commissioner he said he would, or in fact did, use the entire power of the police, to the neglect of other laws, in order to enforce the Sunday closing laws.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-31