The fissures are also revealed in the debates over bans on Sunday sales of liquor.

During the same period of 1990, a year before the strike, combined daily circulation was 3,545,667 and Sunday sales were 3,881,108.

However, counties and cities may hold referendums to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine only.

The first referendum provided for Sunday sales of alcohol by the drink in restaurants.

"Quite simply, I thought this was a law whose time had come," he said, referring to the 1933 law that banned Sunday sales.

Ward's reports that dealers are challenging laws prohibiting Sunday sales in Texas and some other states.

Many other customers seemed to be just discovering, by accident, that Sunday sales were now legal.

Supporters of the proposal to allow Sunday sales of alcohol argued that doing so would help the economy.

Many state legislatures have repealed Sunday sales laws in recent years.

The law, which officials recently found, required that towns approve Sunday sales by referendum.