The Wisconsin Sunday Bill Defeated
By W. A. Colcord
OSTENSIBLY in the interests of the laboring men, under the direction of the Wisconsin Sunday Rest Day Association, and backed by strong church influences, a bill was introduced into the Wisconsin Legislature, February 9, requiring employers to grant their employees fifty-two rest days a year, these to be given weekly as far as practicable, and seven of these at least to be on “the first day of the week.” The legislature had decided that no new bills could be introduced after February 10, and was planning to adjourn19by February 25, if possible. It will be seen, therefore, that the friends and promoters of this bill waited until almost the latest possible moment to bring it forward, hoping, no doubt, to have it carried through quickly, and with as little opportunity given for opposition to it as possible. Immediately upon hearing of the character and terms of the bill, we addressed a letter to each member of the legislature, calling attention to its origin, its religious character and evident intent, as revealed in the words, “seven of these at least to be on the first day of the week,” so adroitly woven into it, and how it would operate upon observers of the seventh day of the week. Each letter was accompanied with some of our religious liberty leaflets. We also urged our brethren in Wisconsin to do all they could, by petitions and otherwise, to oppose the bill, and, if possible, to secure a hearing before the committee having the bill in charge. This course was pursued. Petitions were circulated; letters were written; and a hearing, lasting four hours, at which the friends and opponents of the bill were present and made their arguments, was held March 21; and although the bill got so far as to be reported back from the committee, it was gloriously defeated in the Assembly on March 27, when it came up for final action. Writing under date of March 30, Elder H. W. Reed, our religious liberty secretary for Wisconsin, says: “I have good news to tell you. The bill 339 A has been defeated. All the praise be unto our God.” A member of the Assembly, writing to Elder Reed of the fate of the bill, says: “339 A has been defeated. Before its defeat I offered an amendment to strike out all reference to Sunday rest, or rather, I should say I had this done. Thus you will understand my attitude on rest days. However, I am sorry to report that the reform crowd defeated the bill in its amended form.” This shows that the enforcement of “Sunday rest” was the real thing the “reform crowd” were after all the time, and that after this element was eliminated from the bill, they had no further interest in it,—were, in fact, opposed to it. A law providing for fifty-two rest days a year, but not requiring at least some of these to fall on Sunday, was not what they were working for. This demonstrates how much real interest these Sunday Rest Day Associations have in “the poor laboring man,” and the shallowness and falsity of the “civil sabbath” plea. In a letter dated March 29, Elder Wm. Covert, president of the Wisconsin Conference, says: “I received word this noon from Senator —, of Wisconsin, stating that the bill 339 A was overwhelmingly defeated on the floor of the Wisconsin Assembly, Monday evening, March 27. This is glad news to us. We had been working hard to bring about this result, and we thank the Lord for the victory that he has given the truth. “It was my privilege to be present when a hearing on the bill was given before the committee, and put in an earnest protest against it. Elder Jones was present, and rendered excellent service. I enclose a copy of the letter that I sent to each member of the Senate, and to thirty-five members of the Assembly.
“This affair has given us an excellent opportunity to present the truth to our lawmakers. Many others have also received instruction of the same kind. We had but a very short time to work after the bill was introduced, as the Sunday rest people did not present it until the last day of their opportunity,—doubtless because they were watching us, and did not want us to have much time to work against it. As it was, we secured nearly three thousand signatures upon our petition against it. If we had had more time, we could have secured a great many more. Nearly all the business men in several cities signed the petition against the bill. It has aroused our brethren in Wisconsin to the situation, and we expect to continue working with the people upon this theme.” We are glad for this another victory to the cause of truth and freedom. In this we have another evidence of the Lord’s willingness and readiness to work with us and through us, when we, with energy, take up and do the work he has assigned us, warning men against false worship and the enforcement of false worship by law. We commend what has been done in Wisconsin, also what was recently done in Missouri, as reported in a late number of the REVIEW, to our brethren everywhere. When evil seemed almost sure to triumph, victories have been gained. Let all take courage. Let these victories be followed up, and the principles of truth disseminated far and wide. Now is the time to sow the good seeds of truth. W. A. COLCORD.