A Wicked Measure by M. C. W.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 11, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 19.

A Wicked Measure

By M. C. W.

Among the measures reported for favorable action in the Senate of California is a bill which “forbids any employer to attempt to control or interfere with the social or business dealings of any of his employees outside the scope of their employment.”

We have not seen the bill; but if this is a correct statement of it, it is a wicked thing. If such a bill becomes law, an employee might be a gambler, a saloonist, a divekeeper, at night; but his employer could not interfere with him or discharge him. He might be an associate of harlots or pimps; but the law would forbid the employer’s interfering, and to discharge him would be to interfere. Such a life must have a debasing, degrading influence upon his associates; but its purposeful activities lie outside of business hours, and that life must not be touched.

We cannot believe that the legislators of California will put such a law, with such potencies for evil, upon the statute books. An employer ought to have the right to guard the integrity and reputation of his house, and guard his employees from unholy and debasing associations. To do this, he must take cognizance of those whom he employs, outside of their business hours. M. C. W.