Legislative Hearing in Wisconsin by Allen Moon

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 8, 1909

Legislative Hearing in Wisconsin

By Allen Moon

THE church-and-state element in Wisconsin, like the proverbial ghost, comes up again, seeking religious legislation under the guise of humanitarianism. A committee of the legislature granted a hearing a few days ago on three Sunday bills, one providing “that keeping open a barber shop on Sunday, for the purpose of cutting hair and shaving beard, shall not be deemed a work of necessity or charity.” The friends of these bills were deeply solicitous for the poor laboring man, and his right to rest on Sunday. It appeared, however, that out of between two and three thousand barbers in the State, about seven hundred wish to take Sunday rest; and instead of taking their rest, as they have a right to do, they, with certain religious leaders, set about securing an act of the legislature to compel those to rest who do not desire to do so.

The committee heard the stock arguments: that the soulless corporations compel men to labor continually; that men are deprived of acquaintance with their families because of continuous labor; that man's life and health depend upon Sunday rest; that the morality of the community is dependent upon Sunday rest; likewise, that the safety of the public, and finally, the stability of the state, rest upon the ability to secure a day of rest for all.

Replying to these, it was stated that no barber was compelled to labor on Sunday; that all had kept open shop because a large majority did not care to rest. On general principles, prominent railroad and street-car men, as well as leading manufacturers, testified that men were not to be compelled to labor seven days continuously, and it was their observation that the men of best endurance were those who rested regularly eight hours out of every twenty-four. It was shown that the Creator had amply provided for physical rest during the hours of sleep, and that it would be more humane to secure to the laboring man his right to daily rest; that there is no evidence that Sabbath rest was designed by the Author for mere physical recuperation, it having been established for man as he came from the hand of God, and before the curse of labor came upon him. The Creator called the sabbath rest his own rest, and required its observance as an act of reverence on the part of man. Sabbath rest was a provision for man's spiritual development, as was the nightly rest for his physical. Sabbath belongs solely to the spiritual realm; therefore, the measure before the legislature is religious, and only religious, it having originated in the religious sentiment of the people.

Reference was made to the fact that a church-and-state sentiment had existed in this country from its foundation; that a union of church and state existed in early days, and was overthrown by force of sentiment resulting in legislative enactment. And when the people, by their representatives, had declared it would never again exist, those religionists did not cease their efforts to commit the nation to enforced religion. It was shown that Congress had administered a rebuke to those who openly sought the enactment of a law on religious grounds in 1829-30, by adopting Johnson's report on Sunday mails, a portion of which was read. It was further shown that after the act of Congress in 1830, Sunday laws became a dead letter for a term of years; and when the church-and-state element again came to the front, it was to present the humanitarian argument in favor of Sunday legislation. It is the same old church-and-state party that was dethroned in Virginia and defeated in Congress, but with new clothes on. The demand now for the sabbath laws is made on the basis of the crying need of rest for the laboring man; the deliverance of the laboring man from corporate greed, etc. The pious fraud of these claims is apparent to every one; for it is well known that many members of great corporations employing labor are members of religious bodies, and some great corporations are controlled by the church, and could, if they would, provide weekly rest for employees.

The history of Sunday legislation in recent years was reviewed; and it appeared that when these humanitarian arguments had prevailed, and stringent laws had been enacted, the same people making the argument had used the laws for a very different purpose than that of relieving the men who labor for corporations; namely, to wage persecution against those who observed another day as the Sabbath, thus destroying the claim that there was no religion in it.

The hearing occupied four hours, and it was evident that a good impression was made upon the members of the committee.

ALLEN MOON.