Making Criminals—A Typical Illustration
JONES and Smith are neighbors. Both are reputable citizens, held in high esteem by all who know them. Both are members of the same political party. Both are believers in religion because of early training and reading, tho not professed Christians. Each of them is worth about $10,000, and presumably contributes similar amounts toward the support of the Government and public utilities. Jones is engaged in sedentary office work during the week, and finds his best rest in an active, out-of-doors Sunday. He generally spends it in his garden, at golf, or at a baseball game. He feels better the next day for the outdoor exercise. Not so with Smith. His daily occupation is hard, manual labor out-of-doors. He does not want physical exercise Sunday, so he accompanies his wife to church on Sunday morning, and attends a lecture on esoteric Buddhism, perhaps, in the afternoon or evening, or reads the magazines, or plays games,—in every way he can to “take it easy.” Last week they were equals before the law. This week Jones is a criminal. He has changed neither in opinion nor practise. He is none the worse nor the better for the week. Why, then, is he a criminal?—Simply this, reader: this week there is a typical Sunday law in force. Under that law, Jones is guilty. The law, not his choice, has made him a criminal. Last week he was a reputable citizen. To-day, with no change in opinion, character, or action, he is a criminal, simply and solely because a religious class have succeeded in inducing a majority of voters to crystallize their religious opinion into law. Reader, whoever you are, male or female, whatever you are religiously or politically, do you believe in that sort of law? Californians, will you vote to put such a law, or any other law which would lead to it, on the statute-books of the State? A right law bears on all good men alike.