Open Sunday at Sesqui Threatens to Produce Religious Controversy

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The injection of the religious element into the controversy over the open Sunday at the Sesqui-Centennial, by the withdrawal of Protestant clergymen from the Board of Directors of the Sesqui, now threatens to develop into a widespread religious controversy, according to indications. Mayor Kendrick has been accused of being influenced by movie magnates and other amusement promoters, the accusers emphasizing that most of these are Jews.

The charge that the Catholics and the Jews are responsible for the decision of Mayor Kendrick to open the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition on Sunday, was made at a meeting in South Philadelphia, Monday, addressed by Protestant clergymen.

The main speaker at the meeting declared: “This is a Protestant country. When the war of the Revolution was fought, there were not many people in this country who were not Protestants!” The complexion of the audience was revealed when the demands that the Ku Klux Klan, whose proposed parade in September Mayor Kendrick cancelled, should parade anyway, with or without permit, was loudly cheered.

At the same time the directors of the Sesqui-Centennial have remained firm in their decision on the subject of open Sunday and the klan parade. While the meeting in South Philadelphia was taking place, the directors issued an announcement that the Exposition will be wide open on Sunday in spite of protests.

To date the following clergymen have withdrawn from participation in the Sesqui-Centennial because of the Sunday opening: Bishop Berry, head of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this section; the Rev. Dr. Edward Macartney, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, and Dr. Floyd W. Tompkins, one of the leading Episcopalian ministers here.