Working for a Sunday Law
By Editor
IN the San Francisco "Call" of June 19 is a news note entitled "Petition Asks Ballot for Rest-Day Law. Work is Directed by Dr. G. L. Tufts of Berkeley." The note reads as follows: "Initiative petitions calling for a ballot at the November election for a weekly rest-day law are being sent out from headquarters in Berkeley and Los Angeles, and a bill providing such a law will be submitted to the voters provided that 31,000 signatures are secured. "The work is under the direction of Dr. G. L. Tufts of Berkeley, who drafted and lobbied through the legislature of Idaho the rest-day law of that state. The proposed law has been evolved from the Idaho law, and has been submitted to many lawyers and citizens. It is argued that it is in no respect a 'blue law' or 'religious legislation,' in that it does not touch upon the question of Sunday amusements, leaving that to local control. "The proposed law provides for the closing of all unnecessary business on Sunday, and prevents generally the hiring of labor, but does not restrict any person's right to engage in personal work, and makes exceptions in the case of various manufacturing, industrial, public service, and quasi-public lines and pursuits." It will be remembered that the Idaho law demands that officials of all sorts whose business can be interpreted to lie in that direction at all, are compelled to enforce it, under penalties of fines from $50 to $500, and their office declared vacant. It is said that it is not a "blue law," but the whole object is to introduce the small end of the wedge. That is all that is expected. If this can be done, localities and future legislation can furnish all that is necessary in stringency and tyranny. Doubtless Mr. Tufts will secure his 31,000 signatures. That is not a difficult matter. We hope that the intelligent voters of California, male and female, will see that the law is turned down. The same news is given in the San Francisco "Bulletin" of June 17, which states that the petition has been circulated among the churches of Oakland and in Los Angeles and an appeal will be made to congregations throughout the state.