Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-05-18
ACTION OF THE LOCAL DIREC-
TORY STARTLING.
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 1o.-The action of v..v
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 a 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 commissioners
were angry about it when they ar
rived at the administration building.
There were number, if not MAORI
~, who expressed themselves as being
personally in favor of an open Sunday,
but al 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 SO many declared them
selves as being personally in favor of
an open fair, but at the same time
as 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 thev to give formal
utterance to 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 a 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 it could become opera
tive; but the directory, according to
MIR. 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. Mr. Schwab MAIN
tGins that the entire control of the
grounds is in the hands of the direct
DRY and 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-
ministration, and he intimated pretty
plainly that the gates will be opened
on Sunday week.
Commissioner Richard Grant White
does not think SO. He said: 81 think
the directory will conclude that it's
action of Yesterday was a mistake and
rescind it before May p. There are
just two ways to open the Fair: First,
to have the courts declare the act of
Congress unconstitutional; second, to
have a special session of Congress re-
peal the law. There is no other way
Ii the directory does not rescind tits
action of yesterday the commiss on
will take such steps as may be neces-
ssry to keep the Fair closed. myself
favor Sunday opening. But the law is
till either it is declared unconstitu-
tional or Congress repeats it
'JuppoSe 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 Clendening. commiss oner
from Arkansas, said: 81 think the ae-
ton of the committee about the
checklist thing have heard of They
want to open the fair to keep the
people from going to the saloons.
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 they
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 Garvin, commissioner from
Indiana said: cit is possible that some
action will be taken to stop them open
ing the gates, But it must be a legal
action 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 OF
closing the fair on Sundays, said: Il
suppose tIlls actlon Oh Ine local cOrpO'
ration is but the entering wedge and
that sooner or later the Fair Will be
open full blast. The buildings may as
well be open if the grounds are
to be. If we invite foreign nations tc
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 a matter for them
to determine. l am sorry the directors
did not go farther and declare the
buildings open, too. The commission
will ultimately approve such a rule. >