The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-01-11
Chicago Citizens, Including Mayor
Washburne, Appear Before the
House Committee
To Urge Upon Congress the PrOpriety
OF Keeping the Big Show Open
Sundays.
Speeches by Washburne and others
Chicago's Disinterestedness.
Gompers Also There.

of the worlds Colum bian exposition
committee OF the house = Il = ,'unday
opening question have begun. - com
mittee room was filled with lnonl hers Of
the city government of Chicago and
other persons, including four women
interested in the subject. For twenty
minutes after the hearing began Chair
man Durburrow and Messrs. Little of
New York and Dingley Of Maine were
the only members present. Representa-
tive Reilly, of Pennsylvania, later ap-
peared and Elliott r. Shepard, Attorney
General Hunt, of Illinois, and several
Illinois congressman followed.
Mayor Hampstead H. Washburne was
at the hearing and introduced City
Clerk Van Cleve, whoread the memorial
of the Chicago city council praying that
the gates of the worlds fair be not closed
on Sunday; that the buildings be kept
open for the inspection of exhibits and
that full opportunities be afforded for
the holding of religious ceremonies in
all creeds.
Mayor washburne Spoke.
Mayor Washburne then addressed the
committee in support of the memorial.
The act creating the fair declared that
it was to be national and international
one. Therefore, the question was
whether the government would keep its
faith with all the governments Of the
world. He held that under the pre-
amble creating the exhibition congress
must SO legislate as to benefit the ma
jority of those for whom it was created.
1t was to be an exposition for all the
people of every race and creed; the Mo-
hammedan and Hindoo who know moth
ing of our religion; the Jew who OBJ
serves another day; the people of Europe
who regard Sunday as a day of recrea-
tion and the people who know no relig-
ion. There was also a constitutional
question involved. If the gates were to
be closed on the ground urged by those
persons who insisted on Sunday closing
as showing that this country recognized
the Christian religion as the religion of
the land, it would not be justified by
the principles of our constitution. The
fathers of our country knew too well
the abuses that might arise if congress
were permitted to legislate on any ques-
ton involving religious belief.
Not for Sentimental Reasons.
The church people did not ask for
Sunday opening from sentimental rea-
sons, but in the name of 1,250,UOO of
Americans who live from day to day by
the wages they earn; in the name of
IL cities in the State of Illinois, 16 in
Indiana, 0 in Michigan, in Wisconsin,
= in Kentucky, 2 in Missouri, in Ohio,
and in Iowa, all Of which are within a
radius of 800 miles of Chicago. Each of
these cities was manufacturing center
and their laboring people might lay
down their work on Saturday, visit the
fair on Sunday and be back at the bench
Monday morning.
For the Common People.
Mayor Washburne then urged the
committee to listen to the common
people" who were not here and said
little, but whose ballots were as numer-
ous as the snowfiakes and fell as noise.
lessly in the American verdict. If the
exposition was for the rich and inde-
pendent-they could visit the fair at any
time-his voice was silenced; but not SC
with the common people.
Alderman Madden, on behalf Of the
people of Chicago, asked that the fail
be opened on Sunday so that they might
be better able to entertain their visitors
and that the social, moral and educa
tional interests of all the people might
be promoted.
Unselfish Chicago.
] Alderman Sexton insisted that the
people of Chicago were entirely unset
fish in asking Sunday opening and said
that If they We're merely grasping fol
the almighty dollar they would favor
Sunday, closing for allAthe people wht
went to live near jackson Park tina
they might be near the exposition woult
be driven to the city on Sunday to seel
for means of spending the day.
President Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor, appeared In pur
suance to the instructions of the organ
ization and urged Sunday opening. TIL,
working people, he declared, were Ii
! favor of Sunday opening. It was
practical question and Sunday was th,
! best day for the laboring people fo
whose benefit it was largely TO be held
Renominated Sanders,