Saloons After the San Francisco Earthquake
The cities and towns adjacent to San Francisco have been made to feel the curse of their saloons quite severely since the earthquake. That city being obliged to close what was left of hers for the protection of the stricken populace, the drinking element have been taking every possible opportunity to visit the neighboring places. So numerous and so dangerous was this migration that resort to at least partial closing had to be taken in those places also. Oakland closed altogether for awhile, and still feels compelled to close at night. Alameda gave entire option to the chief of police, who keeps the saloons of that city closed during the entire night and Sunday. The Sausalito people were so overrun by the rough element that the town council met one Sunday and passed an ordinance closing all dramshops on that day, and put it in force immediately. All peace officers know the source of most of their troubles, and they know that the more idleness there is, the more men are inclined to frequent saloons to drink and concoct evil. Yet, strange as it is, there are not only men who favor saloons, but there are men who insist that idleness shall be enforced on Sunday by forbidding honest labor on that day.