Decorah-posten og ved arnen., 1918-06-11
THE PRO
CLAMATION.

70
languages in private and parochial
schools, in public speech ~ including
religious worship r. on railroad trains,
in the telephone etc, has given him
a notoriety seldom, if ever, accorded
a state executive under similar cir
cumstances in the West. While one
would hardly conceive that the
Governor was not, in a measure,
prepared to weather the storm result
ing from his arbitrary act, yet we
doubt whether, at the time Of af6xing
his signature to the proclamation, he
fully realized the nature and extent
OF its ultimate effect.
Naturally, the proclamation has
called forth numerous protests from
all parts OF the state. Christian CON
gregations Of various denominations
using, wholly or in part, a foreign
language, suddenly found themselves
deprived OF what they had always
considered a sacred constitutional
privilege, and made haste to record
their disapproval OF the oppressive
measure. They also asked for further
light on the subject, assuming that,
in some way, the Governor might be
prevailed upon to modify the terms
OF his proclamation.
The Governors answer. according
TO Des Moines papers, is that NJ relief
must be expected. He is reported 10
have said: Neither the federal nor
the state constitutions guarantee t
them the right to speak or pray in
any other language. l am telling
those who insist upon praying in some
other language that they are wasting
their time, for the good Lord up
above us is now listening for the voice
in English" This last uttcrance we
shall not attempt 10 characterize.
Coming as it does from the Governor
OF the state, we are citing il at its
face value.
But whatever the Governors plans
may be in the matter OF enforcing his
unprecedented order, evidently some
o in the wheel OF authority at the
state capital must be out of COM
mission, for we learn from our
esteemed contemporary Dannevirke,
published at Cedar Falls, that the
Danish congregation AT Newell, la,
has been granted a dispensation from
the stipulations OF the proclamation
In substance. according to Dame
Virke, il amounts to this: The con-
~gregation, after acquainting itself with
the proclamation, made an inquiry at
the county attorneys Office as TO
whether the sheriff would be ordered
to close the church in case they con
tinued their Danish services. The
county attorney answered that he
could not see that he had any right
or authority to interfere However,
he laid the matter before the Attorney
General of the State, and afterwards
informed the congregation that it
might g on with the Danish services
a before; but he advised that the
parochial school be closed for tho
summer. This advice as we under
stand u. was merely = suggestion ths,
the congregation Nigh, or MIGHT rn,
follow The Governors order ,s :, ssv
fir. At any rate. !. was no, in the
form a., a command maxine the
closing ~ the school, ;-,e-,,;yo
We are not publicly informed to
what extent this di~spensation :, the
Danish congregation n Newell has
been granted with the consent, ~ the
Governor. but we take +, that he INNS,
have approved it The question Then
arising from the ,ituaron as do
ve,oped so far. il, this Ar,s, tho
Danish people at Newell Ne permitted
10 worship in their old language N
violation Of the Governors nroc,,wa-
ton, and in spite OF his assurance thar
the good Lord I'D above +, now
listening for the voice in English i"
while all other CONGREGATIONS using
a foreign language are ~supposcd 10
adhere to the ~gubcrnatorial dictum of