Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-11
SUNDAY ADVOCATES
FAIL TO SEE HOOVER
Proponents of Law for Dis
trict Seek Presidents
Views in Vain.

Proponents of Sunday closing law
for the District today made their sec
ond call at the White House in as many
days to obtain some expression from
President Hoover, who yesterday was
asked to lend his assistance in getting
through such legislation, but the trip
was without result.
Rev. Davis G. Wylie and Rev. H. l..
Bowlby, president and general secre-
tary. respectively, of the alliance, who
headed yesterdays delegation. called
again today to request an expression.
They did not see the President today.
No Comment at Present.
These two officers of the alliance
here from New York, we're received by
George Akerson, one of the Presidents
secretaries. who answered their request
for a written expression by assuring
them that the President no doubt
would have something to say on the
subject in due course of time, but that
for the present he would make no COM
n1itment.
The President listened attentively
yesterday to what the delegation had to
say, but did not commit himself, and
regarding his attitude toward the ques-
ton of Sunday observance one of his
closest friends said today that from his
long association with the President, he
has found that the latter, while con-
sidering 1t the proper thing for the in
dividual to attend the church of his
religious faith on the Sabbath, be-
lieves in innocent recreations and ac-
tivities which do not interfere with
public morals.
Views Not Provincial.
The President was represented as
feeling that outdoor recreationS and
amusements have a wholesome and
beneficial effect and that he always be-
lieved that the proximity to nature was
helpful to the individual. Moreover, ii
was pointed out that Mr.. Hoover has
travelled in many parts of the world
and from his experiences as an en-
gineer his views are not those Of the
provincial.
In answer to inquiries from the press
it was said in behalf of the President
that 1t is not known now Just when
he will have anything to say publicly
regarding the Sunday closing move
ment. The inference has been drawn
that the President will try to remain
in the background while those for and
against Sunday closing in the District
of Columbia fight 1t out.
Use Sunday Rest" Term.
The Lords Day Alliance does not call
its attempt to close the District on
Sunday as advocating blue laws. >
Those who discussed the subject with
the President yesterday used the term
Sunday rest" laws.
DR.. Bowlby, in decrying the "blue
law" references to the legislation advo-
Gated, described them as red, white
and blue laws" DR.. Bowlby insists that
the attempt to bring about observance
of the Sabbath in the District is not
for the purpose of restricting innocent
amusements, but to afford day of rest
to those who are compelled to toll as the
result of lack of closing laws in the
District at this time.
He indicated that the alliance favored
the Lankford bill providing for Sunday
closing in the District, but that 1t was
opposed to amendments which had been
approved by a subcommittee of the
District committee which would exempt
motion picture shows and base ball.
1t was explained by DR.. Bowlby today
that Bishop Cannon of the Methodist
Church of Virginia was not with the
alliance delegation yesterday as MEM
ber of the alliance, but as a member OF
committee dealing with Sunday clos
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