The Washington herald., 1918-04-13

Ever since the organization OF the
country-if one may call it that
there has been discussion among
those who make its laws, as to Sun
dav observance.
Each session of Congress has seen
some form of Sunday observance
proposed-and the present session
is no exception. AS il il is not enough
to teach little Christianity to the
Huns across the water, Senator
Jones of Washington suggests that
it would be wise to compel people
to observe the Sabbath in the Dis
trict. The aim Of his proposal is
to prevent the transaction OF all
unnecessary worldly business" on
that day.
The measure does not set out to
define "woIdly." This - left to tn"
court with the aid. perhaps. of the
ever ready Noah. Tn" plain intent.
however. is to make folks take
cocnizancc of the first day Of the
week. and to instill in them by law
what it may not be So easy to i'm
press upon them through voluntary
contribution
Nearly ninety years ago the ques-
ton came up in much the same way
in the Senate Of the nation. The
question at stake was the distri-
button of Sunday mail. In the course
of its report advocating the con-
/ tinuancc of the SUNDAY distribution
| the committee took occasion to lay
down this more or less fundamental Il
statement which will be read into
! the record il the Jones bill seri-
! ouslv engages the members of
| the 1918 session. This reads as fol-
/ lows:
at is not the legitimate province
| of the legislature to determine what
religion is true, or what false. Our
| government Is civil and not
RELIGIOUS institution. Our consti-
| tuition recognizes in every person
l the right to choose his own religion.
| and to enjoy it freely, without
molestation. Whatever may be the
| religious sentiments of citizens and
I however variant. they are alike en-
| titled to protection from the gov
| crnment. so long as they do not
! invade the rights of others.
For a man who has been con-
! stantIy digging at those seeking to
| lnSllll emergency lhho o"i "oi oN~''
tiles, Dave Lawrence turns sud
| den corner when he admits that the
| airplane program was conceived
| more in the future tense than DEM
| onstrated in the past tense. III the
same article, to make his stand the
more surprising, the willy Dave also
| admits there was a vast amount OF
| "theorizinG" with respect 10 the
shipping program. and that certain
| other phases of our war activities
! were painted far too gaudlly oefore
| the gaze of our alert countrymen
We felt all along Dave would see
| the error of his ways. We are glad
he has fulfilled the prediction we
made to our fellow workmen.
Senators McKellar. Fletcher and
Eeckham, who refused to sign either
airplane report made by the Sen
ate Committee, occupy neutral
ground. They agre in the main with
the majority of the committee. but
| hesitate to bring down upon the
heads of the administration the cen
| sure which that report administers.
| They refused to sign the exculpa-
tion document because they do not
believe 1t is right to make condt-
tions too glowing for the nation to
peruse. Their action is more po-
ltical than anything else. They hate
to condemn a Democratic admins
tration because they fear It will
bring odium upon their party-but
they will not defend the administra-
ton when to do so would only show
| the absurdity of their defense. They
are loyal to the party. but not loyal
enough to defend it in such a grave
matter.
1t Is said that Senator-elect Len
| root. of Wisconsin, will not rush
to the Senate end of Congress, where
seat is awaiting him, until the
leasing bill is passed through the
lower body. The Public Lands Com.
mittee Of the House 10 meeting In
| laxscptiYa aAasion 70 -nadraft tho msaa,
W.