, 1923-01-03
BLUE LAW
ADvOCATESB USY
IN CONGRESS

washington, Dec. 16-LegiSlatf0n
to enforce observance of the Sabbath
as a day Of rest In the District of
Columbia Is being vigorously de-
manded of congress at this session
by various religious and welfare as
sociations.
The Religious Liberty association
Is sounding a warning of the activities
Of professional reformers" in lobby
ing for the passage of District of Col
umbia, blue laws" asserting that
"the leaders of the Lords Day AL
lance, the National Reform associa-
ton and International Reform bureau
are demanding even more drastic
Sunday legislation than is now pro-
posed"
In a statement issued Saturday the
Religious Liberty association says:
chairman Focht of the house dis
trict committee states that some Of
these reform organizations are threat
ening to members Of his committee
with political heheadal If they refuse
to C on the pending Sunday bills for
the District of Columbia. These re-
formers will not be satisfied un
they have stopped the sale of Sunday
newspapers, the sale Of gasoline to
automobilists on Sunday. Sunday con
certs and theaters. in fact. they are
planning to close up every door and
every avenue OF secular interest, leav
ing open only the avenue that leads to
the church door on Sunday"
THREE BILLS PROPOSED
FOR CONSIDERATION
Three Sunday bills have been intro
duced, one in the senate and W in
the house of representatives, two Of
which, fathered by Senator Myers,
democrat. Montana), and Represen-
tative Zihlman (~Republican. Mary
land), provide for one day OF rest In
seven for employees in certain employ
ments. preferably Sunday, and the
third presented by Representative
Fitzgerald. Republican. Ohio). Forbid
ding any person to labor or employ
others to labor on Sunday except on
works of necessity or charity, to keep
open any theater. moving picture
house, dance hall. place Of public as
sembly or amusement for secular pur
poses, or ito engage in unlawful
.ports on the Lords day, commonly
cal cd Sunday"
"Unlawfui sports" II is explained
by advocates OF the bill. would be any
games for which an admission fee Is
charged. The bill makes no exemp-
tions in favor Of those observing any
day other than Sunday and provides
for penalties Of from SIS to $500 fines
or Imprisonment of from n to six
months, or both.
The Fitzgerald bill. the most drastic
of the three. s Endorsed by the Ma
tional Reform association. the LORDS
Day alliance. the Pastors Federation
of the District Of Columbia, the Y. M.
c. A. and the board Of temperance
prohibition and public morals OF the
Methodist Episcopal church.
There are too many laws on the
statute books now that can't be en-
forced" Representative Focht ala
Saturday.
Against all blue laws under
which, according to C.. s. Longacre'
general international secretary. Ser
enth Day Adventists are already Pc
ing persecuted in various states, the
Religious Liberty association protests
and especially against congressional
action even for the District OF Col
umbia, which the association fears
will be the first o In an attempted
nationwide insistence on the observ-
ance of Sunday and the destruction
Of the constitutional guarantees OF
religious liberty.
"In some OF the states where drr'
tic Sunday laws are now on the sta
tute books" says Mr.. Longacre, re-
form organizations are carrying on
crusades which harken back to the
days when the p~uritans lorded IL
over the c~onsciences of dissenters ana
uon-conformists. Recently Sousas
band played highclass music on sun
dav afternoon in Binghamton. N. y.
and the Ministerial association ar
rested the promoters OF the C
"These Puritans, II they had the
power would, no doubt, stop the BIRDS
from singing on Sunday. 1t Is q
wonder they do not petition to GOD
of heaven to stop the angelic choir
that sings before the throne day and
night. without ceasing. The Minis
terial association NOT Washington, d.
G. had no Sunday law to arrest and
stop the community concerts held on
Sunday nights in the washington
Central High school auditorium, SO
they protested because the concerts
attracted so many other church MEM
hers from the evening services. Now