Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-10

Hearing Today Before Representativ,
DnrbOrow's Committee.

Hearing Today Before Representative
Dnrborow's Committee.
The hearings Of the worlds Columbian expo
siticn committee of the House on tho Sunday
opening question was begun this morning. Tho
committee room was filled with members of the
city government Of Chicago and other persons,
including four women interested in the subject.
For thirty minutes after the hearing began
Chairman Durborow and Messrs. Little Of New
York and Dingley of Maine we're the only mem
bers present. Representative Reilly of Penn
sylvania later appeared, and Elliott F. Shepard.
Attorney General Hunt Of Illinois and several
Illinois Congressman followed.
Mayor Hampstead Washburne opened the
hearing and introduced City Clerk Van Clesve,
who read the memorial Of the Chicago city
council, praying that the gates Of the world
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 hold
ing of religious ceremonies by all creeds.
MAYOR wAsHBURNE's ADDRESS.
Mayor Washburne then addressed the COM
mittee 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 nations of the
world. He held that under the preamble
creating the exhibition Congress must so legis-
late as to benefit the majority Of those for
whom it was created. 1t was to be an exposi-
ton for all the people of every race and creed,
the Mohammedan and Hindoo who know moth
ing Of our religion, the Hebrew. who observes
another day, the people OF Europe, who
regard Sunday as a day Of recreation and the
people who know no religion. There was also
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 recoR-
nized 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 we'll the abuses
that might arise il Congress we're permitted to
legislate Oh any question involving religious
belief. Toclose the gates on the first day Of the
week In order to recognize the Christian re-
ligion would clearly establish a religion by
federal law.
The Chicago people did not ask for Sunday
opening from sentimental reasons, but in the
name Of million and quarter Of Americans
who live from day to day by the wages they
earn; in the name Of eleven cities in the
state Of Illinois, sixteen in Indiana,
nine in Michigan, seven in Wisconsin,
three in Kentucky, two in Missouri, four in
Ohio and six in Iowa, all of which are within a
radius of 800 miles Of Chicago. Each Of these
cities was a manufacturing center, and their
laboring people might lay down their work on
Saturday night, visit the fair on Sunday and be
back at the bench Monday morning.
He knew (rather sarcastically) that there was
some patent process by which the laboring
people were to be shipped like cattle to
Chicago. The working people, however, did
not ask for charity, but only for opportunity
and justice. They would pay their way. and if
they could not would stay at home. He OBJ
jected to no persons going to church Sun
day, but insisted that he should not be in
terfered with SO long he wronged no other
person.
AsEvENTH DAY ADVENTIST.
The Rev. DR.. Jones Of New York city began
an argument when he was interrupted by Rep
resentative Robinson Of Pennsylvania, who had
come in who asked to what church he be-
longed Dr. Jones did not know that that was in
point. but Chairman DuIborow said member
of the committee had right to ask a
question, and DR.. Jones said he was q
Seventh Day Adventist" He appeared how
ever. a citizen, but as Congress had gone into
religion he might properly follow it there and
might speak Seventh Day Adventist His
foundational objection the ground that
the legislation established a religion. He
then read with comments long Chicago news
paper reports concerning the capture by
Seventh Day Adventists Of one of four protest
ing mass meetings called by the other side
Chairman Durborow sharply called him to
order and directed him to get to the point
Fortunately IL o'clock arrived and the meeting,
which was beginning to develop into burlesque,
adjourned for the day.