As is well known, Sunday law advocates of California have repeatedly and persistently besieged the legislature at its biennial sessions in behalf of a Sunday law. At one time they demanded it be made a part of the State constitution. Failing in this, their demands were modified at each succeeding session, but without success. Two years ago it was reported that the governor himself requested that the matter be dropped.
So dealing with the legislature was thought to be a useless procedure, it being said that the Adventists managed to convince a majority of the legislators that the measure boded no good to the State in general, and therefore it was defeated whenever before them for consideration. The law of the initiative was hailed as an advantage that could not fail to carry the measure despite the efforts of its opposers.
Enough initiative signatures were secured in church circles to place the question on the ballot to go before all the people in November. In the effort to make the measure appear free from religious bias, it was labeled “One Day of Rest in Seven.” But in this the mark was again overstepped. It was very shrewdly drawn, but one thought in it more prominent than any other was that no person was to be permitted to labor for wages more than forty-eight hours in any consecutive seven days. This matter was not only pointed out to the various chambers of commerce throughout the State, but also to the farmers’ and fruit growers’ organizations. For eight weeks preceding the election our press bureau sent articles to all the weekly newspapers, and five hundred and seventy-five thousand four-page leaflets were distributed by our brethren everywhere.
Besides all this, quite a number of public meetings were held in which the true nature of the proposed law was laid open. Gradually sentiment began to change, and the most influential city papers joined in editorially exposing the measure, and advising people to vote against it. After this nothing more, apparently, could be done than to await the issue of the ballot battle of November 5. At the present writing, November 9, full returns have not been reported, but from the precincts reporting returns (probably one half) the measure was overcome by about 50,000 majority. It is not probable that the remote country precincts yet to be heard from will overcome these figures; for these parts all shared in the general education attempted regarding the measure.
But notwithstanding this decision by the people at large, it cannot for a moment be believed that the Sunday law advocates will rest satisfied. Without doubt they will approach the next legislature for the softening of their lacerated feelings. If unsuccessful there, which they are certain to be, the initiative will again be invoked two years hence, provided enough signatures can be secured to place the question again upon the ballot. But even this condition is not a positive certainty; for whereas less than 32,000 signatures were required this year to demand a popular vote, as many as 60,000 would be required two years hence, as the votes for governor this year have nearly or quite doubled the votes cast four years ago.
However, some way is sure to be found by which to keep this question before the public. It therefore behooves our people now to do the work divinely appointed them while they may do so without hindrance. J. O. CORLISS.