Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-26
SUNDAY IN LONDON.
Working Classes Opposed to the Open.
ing of Places of Amusement.

Working Classes Opposed to the Open
ing of Places of Amusement.
From the London Daily News
Mr.. Charles Hill, secretary for thirty-six
years of the Workingmen's Lords Day
Rest Association. was examined for three
tours at the last meeting of the select COM
nittee on the Lords day act, but pressure
on our space prevented US from reporting
at any length Mr.. HIPS evidence, which
showed that the object of the association
was to secure the Sunday as day of rest
from labor. The committee resisted every
movement which imposed Sunday labor on
the toiling classes. 1t would not interfere
by law with any person to how he spent
Sunday so long as that person did not in
terfere with the Sundays of other people.
Sunday amCsements which could only be
obtained by the Sunday toll of other people
were Legitimate amusements. and the
workers should be protected by wise laws
against those commercial companies and
traders who would appropriate the Sunday
to money making, and the selfish and leis-
ured classes, who would simply use II for
pleasure taking.
Mr.. Hollingshead, great authority. had
stated that 100000 persons were employed
in the amusement industry, of whom $4,000
were in London. The Lords day act of
1881 protected this great army of workers
from Sunday labor by making it illegal
to open any place of amusement for money
bers of the working classes were opposed
to Sunday opening because they saw that
Sunday opening Of amusement places meant
Sunday labor for working people; 2,414
working class organizations. having sol 600
members. had supported Mr.. Broadhurst in
his opposition to the Sunday opening Of
museums.
More than 200 of the delegates who at
tended the trades Union congress Of 1891
had signed q memorial to the commission
ers Of the Chicago exposition asking them
not to open that exhibition on Sundays;
10000 of the working classes In East Lon
Peoples Palace, at three divisions out Of
the four the trades union congress had
voted against Sunday opening policy, and
so late as 1898 the trades union congress
had shown its appreciation Of quiet Sum
day by deciding against Sunday labor DEM
orstrations.
Mr.. Hill gave proofs OF theatrical COM
panies breaking the law by Sunday per-
fcrmances. and commended that If the law
be relaxed in the direction asked places
of amusement and entertainment might be
gradually opened by spectators and pleas
ure seekers all over the country. He also
suggested that TO prevent frivolous prose-
cution the act of 1871 should not be put IN
operation without the consent of two jus
tees or a magistrate. That the objection
able words in the act "disorderly house"
should be altered, that music and dancing
licenses should have q clause inserted IN
them prohibiting the places licensed from
being used on Sundays. except for religious
purposes, as Is the case with the theatere,
and that In any fresh legislation a clear
explanatory memorandum" showing how
the Lords day acts protect the people
from the encroaches of Sunday labor should
preface the act. Mr.. Hill stated that he
had memorial, numerously signed by pcr-
sons engaged in the musical and theatrical
profession, against any relaxation OF the
law which would encourage Sunday con-
certs and entertainments.