"POLICE CHIEF PLANS TO 'TENDER APOLOGIES'"

TORONTO CONSTABLE PULLS AMERICAN FLAG OFF MOTORIST'S VEHICLE

Toronto, Canada (JFK+50) On May 31, 1925, The Sunday Star reports "a Toronto police constable...lifted an American flag from the radiator cap of an automobile driven by H. Rider of Cleveland, Ohio."

According to Associated Press, the constable considered it a sign of disrespect "to fly the American flag without a Canadian flag flying beside it."

Mr. Rider, who served in the British flying corps in the world war, made no effort to remove the American flag after being asked to do so by the constable.  Consequently, the constable removed the flag himself and handed it to Mr. Rider.

AP reports that the Toronto chief of police plans to "call on" Mr. Rider and "tender apologies" for the incident.

SOURCE

"U.S. Flag Is Pulled Off American Auto By Canadian Officer," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., May 31, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

U.S. & Canadian Flags at the U.S. Capitol

by Photo Phiend

Washington, D.C. (2013)

www.flickr.com/

"BUT NEVER NEVER ON A SUNDAY BECAUSE..."

BLUE LAWS VIOLATIONS RAMPANT IN JERSEY CITY

Jersey City, New Jersey (JFK+50) On March 24, 1924, the Associated Press reports the Jersey City Police Department "listed yesterday 80,000 alleged Sunday blue law* violators."

The list includes "picnickers in the city parks, a woman who bought cigarettes and one who had his shoes shined."

According to the AP, these names "will be presented to the Hudson county grand jury."

*Sunday laws, Sunday trade laws or Sunday closing laws restrict or ban certain activities on specific days, usually on Sundays.  In 2022, 28 of the 50 states had restrictions on the sale of alcohol on Sunday.

SOURCES

"80,000 Jersey City Citizens Listed as Blue Law Violaters," The Evening Star, March 24, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

"Sunday Blue Laws," Free Speech Center, www.firstamendment.mtsu.edu/

 

 

Sunday Laws Broadside

Toronto, Canada (1911)

Toronto Public Library