The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-05
would REPEAL
bLASPHENY LAWS
English Believe they are Ar
chaic and Unfair-Other
Peculiar Questions.

London, April 5.-Recent prosecu-
lions under the existing English laws
against blasphemy have resulted in q
concerted movement for their repeal
on the ground that they are archaic
and unfair.
A meeting to this end was held a
few days ago in Essex Hall. the tradi-
tional home Of religious freedom in
England. which was the scene of a
similar meeting in 1924. 1t was at
tended by many clergymen and promi-
nent se%cularists. who all Joined in de-
nounctng the laws and demanding
their abolition. A resolution urged
their early repeal, asserting that they
were ~"ferocious" and 'inhuman." and
an infringement of the great principles
Of civil and religious liberty.
spoke as a sincere friend Of religion,
denounced these existing anti blasph-
envy. statutes because Of the unjust
discrimination in their enforcement.
He said that IL a fellow of an oxford
college. a distinguished member of
parliament. or an eminent literary
man cared to blaspheme in learned
and forcible language. there was little
chance Of his being prosecuted and
the street corner OF, in a public park
gave expression to the same ideas in
crude or foolish language, he was hal
led before a court and frequently SEN
fenced to q considerable term of I'M
prisonment.
Titanic Damage Suits.
|. A NUM- er Of cases for damages aris-
ing out Of h sinking a year ago of
the "Titanic'' are to be brought in
the English courts by relatives OF pas
Sengers who lost their lives in that dis
aster.
The amounts claimed will be MOTH
Ing like those which the American
courts will be called upon to deal with.
There is no way, however, or estimat-
ing them accurately because in Eng
land, unlike America. few of the claim
ants mention any specific sum-, leaving
1t to the courts to award what they
think proper. Among those who will
take action in England are relatives
of Russians and Scandinavians who
went down in the ship.
A few test cases will be heard first
in order to arrive at a basis for the
subsequent trials. Ordinarily the law
limits the amount claimable te SIS per
ton Of the ships gross tonnage. Should
this apply to the case of the Titanic
the total liability Of the White Star
company would not exceed $500, 900.
The attorneys for the claimants will
contend that this law does not apply
in this case.
The university man in business is
becoming a burning subject in Eng
land, but several Of the magnates OF
commerce who have. interested them.
selves in the movement are somewhat
discouragedby the lack of response
from those on whose behalf they are
working. These magnates state that
while business needs the university
man. it can continue to get along much
better without him that he can with
out it.
In spite Of the attractions of the
military service. the church and the
law for English university graduates,
some of them have expressed them
selves in favor Of business careers If
they can be started in at or near the
top. One Cambridge A. B.. suggested
in the most ingenious manner that
he would be quite willing to go into
commerce II he could secure a tutor
who would teach him the business
SO we'll that he could Immediately take
a directing share in it. None of the
ambitious seekers after business ca
reers have shown any desire to enter
1t by the basement door,