The Washington times., 1909-02-15
Committee Hearing in the
House Shows Opposition
TO Senate Bill.
SEE IN 1T A MOVE
TO CONTROL STATE
W. A. ColcOrd Declares Scheme
Is TO Settle Controversy By
Civil Law,

Bitter opposition was offered before
the House District Committee today
to the Senate bill making compulsory
the Sunday closing law.
The committee room was oveTcrOWd-
ed and many people stood out In the
corridors. The majority Of those
present were from Tak0ma Park
members of the Religious Liberty
Bureau.
Every one of the speakers declared
that the enactment of the bill into
law would be a direct violation OF the
Constitution and would indirectly
mean that all people, regardless or
their own beliefs, would have to ac-
knowledge Sunday as a day of wor-
ship. w. A. CoIcord, secretary Of the
Religious Liberty Bureau, said that
such legislation is not only religious,
but that st attempts to settle a re-
ligious controversy by law. He said
that its principal promoters are re-
lgionists, whose object is the estaD-
Iishmeut of religion fin the United
States, and that, II successful, IL viii
/ result in religious persecution and
/ oppression.
No Civil Right
From a civil standpoint" said Mr..
CoIcord. "the only standpoint from
which civil government has a right 10
/ deal with any question, a man has as
much right not to be religious. and not
/ TO observe a day OF rest, as he has TO
be religious, and to observe a day OF
rest and if he chooses not TO be Tellg-
/ iCus, and not to observe a day Of rest,
no civil government has right 70
/ treat him as criminal He is not a
He may not be doing his duty to God.
/ bu- in this ne is doing nothing OF Wh-ch
I civil government can properly take cog
/ uiZauCe and punish MIN as q cillullai-
/ And If 1t De true that civil government
/ cannot properly require men 10 keep z
/ CAV OF rest, how muCh less has IL a
/ right TO assume TO tell them which day
/ they shall Keep as a DAY or rest
/ In defense OF his own position ano
{ thai of the people he represented, Mf.
/ COlc0rd said.
/ believe In Sabbath keeping, but We
stand for the sabbath ordained by God,
/ which needs no support from human
/ laws, and for that keeping OF IT which
/ is prompted by faith, love, and cheerful
/ obedience.
IN Violation Of Rights.
AN Sunday legislation IS a violation
! Of that general constitutional principle
so frequently expressed in American
law, that no preference shall be given
TO any religious sect. society, or mode
/ of worship Sunday legislation doe!
/ give preference 10 that class Of religion
lists who observe Sunday. No such law
is made for those who observe otheI
days
A. T. Jones. Of Battle Creek. Mich.
/ a lecturer on religious subjects, declared
that the bin was introduced with the Oh
fect of having the church control tA'
State and that its passage would NEAR
the reverse of domestic tranquility
lie said it would rey0luuOniZc the couu
try and sweep away the rights or me
individual
Others Against Bill
Other speakers IN opposition 20 tbs
bill were
W. W. Prescott, TakOma Park; c. 3
Thomson, Washington john Quinn
Washington, S. B. Horton, Washington
H. IT, Audreas0u, Greater New York
W. II. Hickman, Philadelphia. .. o
Bernstein. Philadelphia b. j.. Knee
land. New Jersey Carl Haynes, Balil-
more. and X. C.. Russell, OF Baltimore