River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-18
WILL GO TO LAW.
The Validity of the Law Closing &
Worlds Fair ON Sunday to BE Tested In
the Courts.


The validity of the Law Closing {
Worlds Fair on Sunday to BE Tested In
the Courts.
CHICAGO, May 15.--Whether " not
The gates of Jackson park will be opened
to the public Sundays is a question
that will now have to be determined
by the courts. An action calling in
question the powers of the com
mission, the rights of the people,
and asking for construction of the
laws bearing upon the whole subject
matter has been begun in the superior
court of Cook county. The threatened
suit by Charles Clingman to enjoin the
board of directors, the national COM
mission and the South park com
missioners from closing the gates
was commenced in the Cook
county superior court Saturday
afternoon. The suit is direct
attack against closing anything per-
tanning to the exposition and is direct
ed against the local directory because
that body did not pass a resolution
broad enough. The position is taken
that the park commissioners are the
agents of the people and cannot lease
or concede to anybody, including
the general government. the right
of jurisdiction over the grounds
or of anything within the limits of
the park. The case is brought in the
state courts. and the question is treated
as one with which the federal authori-
ties have nothing to do. The only ref
erence to anything national is the
joinder of the national commission as
parties to the action. upon the ground
that this body is ohstructing the rights
of the people in keeping the buildings
and exhibits closed Sundays.
Attorney General Olney has instructed
his subordinate in this district to see
that the laws of congress are not vio-
lated, and to look after governmental
interests. District Attorney Alilchrist
admitted that he had received instruc-
tions from his chief to protect the
rights of the national government in
this matter. In an interview he gives
it as his opinion that the gates cannot
be opened in the manner attempted by
the local directory.
The national commission took no ac-
ton upon the question Saturday other
than To refer it TO the Judiciary commit
tee for consideration and report. The
members decided not To adjourn, as was
at first their intention, but will be
ready to take any action that may be-
come necessary under the circum-
stances.
Gen. ]. W. St Clair, of West Virginia,
IS =, iva of
commission. used emphatic language in
speaking of the directory's resolve. In
cidentally he talked about the possible.
ity of the United States army being
called upon to awe the directors into a
more proper frame of mind. He said:
THE gates of the fair will not be open on
Sunday, May p, unless legally and with the
consent OF the commissioners. am positive OF
this. The action Of the board Of directors will
simply make the fight four times harder
Suppose the directory should insist on open
ing the gates on Sunday, what measures can be
taken 20 prevent them?"
President Cleveland can call upon the
army, and he win do it il the commission
should think it necessary The gates cannot
be opened without the consent OF the pres
dent"
Some of the commissioners expressed
themselves quite decisively upon the
question. They considered that the To-
cal directory, in adopting the resolution
last Friday declaring that the gates
would be open Nay n, have exceeded
theirpowers. Under the dedication it is
claimed that the national commission
was formally placed in possession of the
park and all its contents, and that the
national commission is the only power,
if even they have the right under the
law, to open the gates Sunday.
On the other hand protests against
the action of the local directory were
received by President Palmer from va.
rious sections of the country. The sun
day Closing association has taken the
matter up with the attorney general of
the United States and the local mem
bers of the association viii bring 2
suit to enjoin the directors or anybody
else from open ing the fair on Sunday.