Adroitly Working for a Sunday Law
By J. W. McCord
Seeking to Initiate a Measure to Be Voted on in California This Fall Apparently Innocent, but It Is Religious Legislation
POLITICS and religion make strange bedfellows. One belongs to the earth, earthy, while the other professes to belong to God. Yet how much alike they become in character and conduct when they enter into alliance! Just such a union took place in the fourth century, between the emperor Constantine and the church fathers, and grievous indeed were the results. To-day the clergy and the barbers of California have decided to pool their interests in order to establish a Sunday law in this free state. The Rev. Mr. Crafts and the Rev. Mr. Tufts, of the National Reform Association, have long tried to secure a Sunday law in California. The barbers' union likewise has tried to close the barber shops throughout the state on Sunday. On May 25 the writer interviewed the secretary of the barbers' union of San Francisco, in order to learn the real facts relative to their proposed Sunday law. The secretary informed me that their union had already obtained 30,000 names, and that they were hard at work trying to secure another 10,000, which would give their bill a place on the ballot next November. CHURCH FEDERATION BACK OF IT
He further informed me that eight or ten other unions were behind them in this campaign, and among their supporters are to be found the church federation. To back up his statement that the church federation stood behind the barbers' union in this fight, he showed me a letter from the federation, signed by its chairman, Dr. Aked. The substance of this letter is as follows: "The church federation is behind you in this campaign. If you care to address the federation at the Y. M. C. A. for ten or fifteen minutes, you may do so. If not, you must bring the matter before the churches in any way you please. You may use this letter if you so desire." I asked the secretary for some literature on the subject, and he referred me to the Rev. Mr. Tufts, of Oakland, who is one of the leaders of the "national reform" movement in the state of California. However, I was able to secure a copy of the proposed Sunday law, and also their written instructions to those who are seeking to obtain names. In this carefully printed instruction, the circulators are told to "inquire of Methodist, Presbyterian, or other pastor in your city for the address of 'central headquarters' of your county." ONLY ONE DAY IN SEVEN ASKED
The bill to be presented to the electors next November provides for one day in seven as a day of rest. In reality the bill mentions only one day by name, and that day is Sunday. This is mentioned seven times in the bill. Evidently that is the only day the barbers and the clergy desire as the day of rest. This of course makes the bill both illogical and dangerous. Not much knowledge of history is required for a person to understand that a bill which provides for religious legislation, and arrays class against class, is indeed a dangerous bill. The barbers' bill would create needless trouble between barbers that employ help, and barbers that are employed. It would also cause much bitterness in other trades. I use the word "needless" in this connection, because there is no need whatever for this bill. One day in seven has already been granted by the state; and this state law, so far as I could learn, is scrupulously followed by most of the barbers. For several years, the barbers' union has been very dissatisfied with the state law which provides for one day's rest in seven in every trade. In 1908 the San Francisco barbers' union compelled the barber shops to close at noon on Sunday. This plan would have continued but for the firm of Ruge and Gast, who kept their barber shop open all day Sunday. Then the barbers' union resorted to boycott and picket, and for twelve months this recalcitrant barber shop was picketed. During this prolonged siege, the firm added chair to chair, and to use the words of Mr. Gast, "it was picketing that made business." Having failed in its attempt to close Ruge and Gast, the barbers' union was forced to change its constitution in order that union shops also could keep open on Sunday and thereby save their trade. The barbers' union now hope that the time is ripe to obtain a state law, and thus secure, by the aid of sheriffs, what this union could not obtain by the picket and boycott. BARBERS' UNION ONLY A CATSPAW
It is self-evident that the church federation is using the barbers' union merely as a catspaw to bring into operation an oppressive Sunday law. Compared with other Sunday closing bills, the present bill is somewhat mild, so much so that certain ministers refused to back it. However, the voters of California must not be deceived; for in spite of its mildness, this bill has dangerous potentialities. In sections three and four a penalty is provided in the shape of fine or imprisonment. This bill also provides for a system of espionage in order to obtain a conviction. Therefore if it becomes law, those who work on Sunday, unless they are exempt, will456stand a good chance of going to jail. Thus this mild bill has in solution all the objectionable features of the most drastic Sunday laws on record. DO NOT VOTE YOURSELF INTO JAIL
If this bill becomes law next November, the voters of California will have placed on the statute-book a potential Sunday law. However, the ministerial authors will not be satisfied with so slight a victory as this bill would afford. No; the present bill has been framed by them merely as an "entering wedge"; and when the wedge takes hold, they will drive it home by taking away all the exemption clauses.