Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-05-19
ACTION OF THE LOCAL DIREC
TORY STARTLING.
NATIONAL COMMISSIONERS ARE
FAIRLY DAZED.
Many Favor an Open Sunday, but Yet
Disapprove of the Doings Of the Di-
rectory-The Courts May Take a
Turn at the Matter.

CHICAGO, may 1.-The action of o-.o
local directory in deciding to open the
World Fair grounds on Sundays fairly
took the National Commissioners
breath away. When the Commission
was called to order, it had hardly re-
covered from the shock. Just why
the members should have been SO sur
prised is itself surprise, as they must
have known that the directory would
undoubtedly do something. But to
judge from opinions expressed
In conversation to-day nothing was
further from the thoughts of the COM
mission than such an act on the part
of the directory. The comm lssioners
were angry about it when they ar
rived at the administration building.
There were a number, if not a MAORI
ty, who expressed themselves as being
personally in favor of an open Sunday,
but all who came into the secretary's
room before the meeting declared that
the action of the directory was ill-ad
vised and wrong.
They appeared to think, too, that
the action of the directory would not
hold till the time came for that body
to open the gates. The unanimity
with which 50 many declared them
selves as being personally in favor OF
an open fair, but at the same time
rs having too profound a respect for
the act Of Congress to speak aught
against it, was truly remarkable.
Some of them could hardly wait
for the commission to get together, so
anxious were they to give formal
utterance t. their thoughts and out
ragged feelings. No one could be found
to support Attorney Walkers's idea
that the grounds were in charge of the
directory. One commissioner insisted
that the military force of the govern
ment would, if necessary be brought
to keep the gates closed. And yet
underneath it all there was discover
able feeling that the time is not far
distant when not only the gates but all
of the exhibits as well would be
thrown open to the public.
The Commissioners seemed to take
it for ganted that the commission
would be required to pass upon the
ruling before 1t could become opera
tive; but the directory, according to
Mr.. Schwab, does not think so. Mr..
Schwab said that President Higin-
botham had instructed Secretary Ed
munds to inform President Palmer
of the action. out of courtesy.
But he said that he saw no
reason for the commission doing
anything about it. MIR. Schwab main
tains that the entire control Of the
grounds IS in the hands of the direct
DRY ard that. did the directory feel so
disposed, it might take down all the
fences surrounding the grounds. He
said that he did not think the matter
would come before the Board Of Ad-
ADMINISTRATION, and h intimated pretty
plainly that the gates will be opened
on Sunday week.
Commissioner Richard Grant White
does not think SO. He said: II think
the directory will conclude that its
action of yesterday was mistake and
rescind it before May y. There are
just two ways to open the Fair: First,
to have tn" courts declare the act of
Congress unconstitutional: second, to
have special session of Congress- re-
peal the law. ThHrc is no other Wav
If the directory does not rcScind it's
action of yesterday the commiss on
will take such steps as may be neces-
Sary to keep the Fair closed. myself
favor Sunday opening. But the law is
against it, and ! shall obey the law
TIL either it is declared unconstitu-
tlonal or Congress repeats it."
''Luppose the Directory acts without
one Of those two things being done?''
''Why, we will close the gates any,
way. and if necessary we will call on
President Cleveland, who will order
out troops TO enforce the law"
Sudge Clenden'ng, eommiss' oner
from Arkansas, said: Il think the ae-
tion of the committee about the
checklist thing | have heard of They
want to open the fair to keep the
Why don't they enforce the law and
keep the saloons closed? The two
bits they will ask to let people in
blinds them to the law Should thew
seek to put the rules in force the At
torney General of the United States
be called on to stop them and keep the
gates closed"
Judge Garvln. commissioner from
Indiana said: 1T is possible that some
action will be taken to stop them open
Ing the gates, But it must be a legal
Rcticn in the courts or the gates will be
opened.
Commissioner Eiboek of Iowa, who
introduced the resolution referring to
the directory the matter of opening or
closing the fair on Sundays, said: Il
suppose this action of the local corpo-
ration is but the entering wedge and
that sooner or later the Fair will be
open full blast. The buildings NAV as
well be open if the grounds are
to be. If we invite foreign nations to
participate in this exposition we have
not the right, it seems to me. to say
that they shall not expose their goods
on Sundays. That is matter for them
to determine. | am Sorry the directors
did not go farther and declare the
Buildings open, too. The commission
will ultimately approve such a rule"