The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-03
SUNDAY LAW IN OAKLAND,
The Anti-SaIoon Council Holds
a Monster Demon
StratiOn.
Mills Tabernacle Thronged With
People Who Scored the
City Fathers.

Nearly every church in Oakland was
closed last evening to give the members a
chance to attend the mass-meeting called
by the Council for the Suppression of the
Saloon to protest against the attitude of
the City Council toward the ordinance
closing the liquor-houses on Sunday.
Three thousand people packed Mills Tab
ernacle, where the meeting was held, and
the speakers who appeared were cheered
to the echo.
Rev. William RAIDER, assistant pastor of
the First Congregational Church and presi-
dent OF the Oakland Council for the Sup
preston OF the Saloon, presided. Said he:
believe that every church in the central
part of Oakland is represented tonight. and I
feel very good to see such a magnificent pres
ence OF representative citizens to give express
sion to their dlsapproyal of the Sunday saloons.
What is the matter with the Council? Last
week seven brave men as the Committee OF the
Whole recommended that the amendment be
passed. The refusal of the Council to do it's
duty is due to two men. They voted in favor
OF the referendum. The Mayor came to see me
after the action Of the committee. Mayor
Dav1e sees that is not policy for him to veto
that measure. If he falls Off the fence the veto
Will TALL with him. Let us destroy the force in
the Council.
Rev. Mr.. Rice was then introduced. He
said:
In the name of God and for the brotherhood
OF man congratulate you upon the large and
enthusiastic crowd which throngs the taber-
naeie tonight. They are not here because of
your request, but they are here because they
were swept here. The move to close the saloons
is move for liberty. 1t is one of three or four
mighty movements that are attracting the at
tention OF the Nation to-day. All America is
with u.s.
Brigadier Keppel of the Salvation Army
said: I'VE have been trying to save the
products of the saloons. | would like not
only the city to be free from them but also
the whole State"
DR.. Hobart of the First Baptist Church
said: aG'
would like to have the saloons closed every
day we get part of loaf, and after while we
will get all the rest. But Sunday is the essen
tial day, as it is the day upon which the
laborer spends his weeks earnings.
We must brace up the Councilmen who have
been elected on the platform they have. Let
the battle go on. Let the people stand solidly,
day in the year, but 365 days in the year.
The pastor of the First Unitarian Church,
Rev. Wendte, delivered an address which
was enthusiastically received.
He argued that the Sunday closing of
the saloons would not only be of interest
to the church, but also to the interest of
business. He said that there was no re-
uglOn connected Win the OdKlanQ council
for the Suppression of the Saloons.
DR.. Coyle, the last speaker of the even
ing, was greeted with cheers, which lasted
several minutes, He said:
speak to a great multitude of soldiers of
Jesus Christ. The war is still on and it is q
terrible one. 1t requires as much courage, as
much heroism as any war. We want no blank
cartridges. Nothing is more diAicult to deal
with than liquor.
BY everything high and holy we indict the
saloon as the supreme curse of the race. What
we need in our City Council are men who will
legislate up, not down; men who will legislate
for righteousness, not rum men will legislate
for consciousness, not corruption.
Rev. Mr.. RAIDER now presented the fol-
lowing resolution for the consideration OF
those present. 1t was carried by unani-
nous standing vote.
Resolued, That it is the sense of this meeting
that the city of Oakland close the saloons in
accordance with the provisions of the ordi-
nance now in the hands of the Judiciary Com
mittee, and we hereby call upon the members
of the Council, who were elected upon a plat
form which declared the saloon evil intoler-
able, to faithfully represent their constituency
in this contest.
After the singing of America" by the
audience the benediction was announced.