Making Concessions by W. A. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 18, 1909

Making Concessions

By W. A. C.

So great has been the opposition to the proposed Sunday-law measures in California, that the friends of these measures are trying to save their cause from complete defeat by proposing to make concessions. This is plainly indicated by the following, taken from California papers:—

“The constitutional amendment introduced by Johnson, of Sacramento, to enforce the observance of Sunday as a day of rest, will come up in the assembly to-morrow, at eleven o’clock, as a special order. The majority of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, to which the measure was referred, has reported upon it adversely. One member of the committee, Johnson, of Sacramento, has filed a minority report recommending its adoption.

“The indications are that the amendment will be rejected. There is, however, a strong element in the assembly which would adopt the amendment, after striking out all the sections, with the exception of that which applies to saloons, race-courses, and coursing-grounds.

“The section reads: ‘That the keeping open of bars, saloons, race-courses, and coursing grounds on the first day of the week is prohibited; and the legislature shall provide penalties for the violation of this provision, and for the proper enforcement of the same.’”—Sacramento Bee, Jan. 27, 1909.

“Important concessions have been made by the proponents of the Sunday rest law, pending before the legislature, and a strong effort will now be made to put through the bill in its amended form. “At a meeting of the committee yesterday, Chauncey Dunn, of this city, and Rev. G. L. Tufts, agreed that the section prohibiting Sunday amusements, both theatrical and out-of-door sports, where admission is charged, could be eliminated with their consent by the committee.

They are also willing that the section prohibiting all employment of labor on the Sabbath shall be stricken out.

“This leaves the bill so that it only provides against the opening of all places of business and saloons on Sunday, with some exceptions, such as drug-stores on certain hours, and hotels.”—Sacramento Star, Jan. 29, 1909.

From this it is evident that the Sunday-law advocates in California are not so particular just now what kind of Sunday law they secure as they are that they secure something in the way of Sunday legislation, it matters not how little. They wish to get the State committed to this kind of legislation, and are willing to leave the exact kind of law they wish to a later date.

W. A. C.