Conflict of Authority by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 11, 1910

Conflict of Authority

By C. M. S.

Trouble Over the Regulation of Sunday Sports at Army Posts

“A CONFLICT of authority has arisen between United States District Attorney Asa P. French and Col. Robert H. Patterson of the coast artillery over the regulation of Sunday sports in the United States forts and reservations.

“As he was about to leave for Europe on June 25, Mr. French said that agents of the Treasury Department would go to Fort Banks to-morrow, to obtain evidence of every violation of the Sunday laws.

“Colonel Patterson also issued a statement to the effect that the fort was under his jurisdiction, and that no one would be allowed to arrest any soldier without his authority.”

The above is the substance of a press despatch from Boston, Mass., of June 25. It raises the query as to why the United States government, which has no Sunday law, and is estopped by the first amendment to the Constitution from making any law of a religious character, should be exercising itself over the question of enforcing State Sunday laws over United States government reservations. As the State governments have no jurisdiction over government reservations in any other matter, there is no just ground

for the enforcement of this particular law. With as good reason might the officials of the government say: “The District of Columbia has no Sunday law; therefore we order that the statutes of Virginia upon the observances of Sunday be enforced in the District.”

The ever-increasing demands of the confederated religious elements for the enactment and enforcement of Sunday laws are causing even the high officials of the government to weaken, and to take an attitude toward the fundamental principles of this government which will hasten the overthrow of justice, and put an end to religious freedom.

C. M. S.