p. 21 | The Oklahoma Sunday Bill by W. A. McCutchen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 13, 1908

_The Oklahoma Sunday Bill_

By W. A. McCutchen

Just before the holiday adjournment a Sunday bill was introduced in the upper house of the Oklahoma Legislature by Senator D. M. Smith, of Duncan. As soon as this was known, I was requested by the president of the Oklahoma Conference to come to the capital of the State and join Elder I. A. Crane in working against the passage of the bill. We have now been here over two weeks, have talked with the members of the legislature, and placed a large amount of literature in their hands. Petition blanks were prepared and sent out to our people throughout the State for them to have filled and return to us, with the request that they also write letters to the representatives and senators from their respective counties and districts, protesting against the bill in question. Quite a large number of the petitions have been sent to us, while some, with letters of protest, have been sent direct to the members, which they seem never to fail to introduce and have read and referred to the proper committees.

All this is having a telling effect, so much so that the chaplain of the House requested, and was granted, the use of the Representative Hall, Sunday afternoon, January 26, for a two hours' effort to establish the first-day sabbath. He evidently intended this to influence the members in favor of passing the bill that is before them; but there was perhaps not more than six of them present to listen to his advice, notwithstanding the public announcement of his lecture, the press notices of it, and the billing of the city with reference to it. There was a fair-sized audience of the people of the city present, however, and as they went out after the address, Elder Crane and I, being stationed at the two entrances to the hall, gave literature on the Sabbath question to every person who heard the lecture. The chaplain's effort was a very weak and lame one, and furnished us a good opportunity to get our literature into the hands of the people.

The bill is not a very drastic one, being only an amendment to the Territorial Sunday law now on the statute-books, increasing the penalties and fines for its violation, but still leaving the exemption in favor of seventh-day observers unaltered. However, it shows the tendency of the times in legislation.

The judiciary committee of the Senate, to whom the bill was referred, promised us a hearing on it at two or three different dates last week, but we never got it. It is really believed that they do not wish to bring it up at all. We think most of the members of the committee are against such legislation, and the numerous petitions, letters, and telegrams coming in against this bill make them still more loath to recommend its passage. From present indications, it would seem that there is no prospect for it to pass. The president of the Senate and lieutenant-governor are very much opposed to it. However, we never know what scheme may be worked, or what pressure may be brought to bear by the enemies of liberty or champions of religious legislation, so we continue to work and pray. This attempt at Sunday legislation at least affords us opportunity to get the principles of religious and civil liberty before the lawmakers of Oklahoma in this the first legislature of the new State. We pray that God may give us wisdom, humility, and discretion to do our work aright.

W. A. McCutchen.