Class Legislation

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 5, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 10.

Class Legislation

The morality and stamina of character of the present day is manifest in the expressed design of the bootblacks of Oakland. Not having the grace or grit to close their stands on Sunday themselves, they are “considering the idea of getting an ordinance passed by the city council to close such places at noon or one o’clock. In this way we might bring those into line who have so far refused to come. It is being looked into, and if it can be done, it will be.”

There is now pending before the Supreme Court of California the constitutionality of a Sunday law passed at the last Legislature at the request of a local Barbers’ Union. These cases are class legislation with a vengeance, legislation to enforce the rule of a “union,” or the desire of a man who has not principle enough to do what is right unless he can compel others to do what he thinks is right.