The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-04
SUPPRESSION OF SALOONS,
A Lively Meeting of the Coun-
cilmen of the City of
Oakland.
The Charge of the Municipal League
Refuted-An Offer to
Resign.

Councilmen Mott and Manuel expressed
! themselves in no uncertain terms at the
meeting of the City Council of Oakland
last evening in relation to the recent ut
| terances of the officers of the Council fol
the Suppression of Saloons. City Attor
ney Peirsol was called upon TO express an
opinion as to the legality OF an ordinance
calling special election and to decide
whether saloons should close from P. NJ
Saturday evening until A. NJ. Monday.
He said that he did not think such a meas
ure would be valid.
Then the question of passing on the
measure closing the saloons by the au.
thority of the Council was brought up.
and Councilman Hoffman made motion
that the matter be laid over for further
consideration. This precipitated torrent
of speeches, in which the officers OF the or
ganization for the Suppression of Saloons
were roughly handled. Councilman Manuel
stated that he had decided to resign from
his Office if the unjust criticisms on his
character as public officer were not
stopped.
Councilman Mott opened the ball with
a typewriter speech, which was in sub
stance as follows:
This is most important piece of legislation
1t goes farther and means more than any
measure that has been before this body for
some time. 1t IS a sumptuary law, and its
adoption means the abridgment of public
right. Any measure that restraints the liberty
! OF the people should be referred to them for
their decision, for equality is of the funda-
mental principles of our Government and no
citizen or body of citizens, or society, has any
right to insist that the Council pass any ordi-
nance that would not be sustained by a
majority OF the citizens; The sentiment
that it should be submitted to them to
vote upon, and it occurs to all fair-minded
men that the promoters of this movement
I how hnnr h. r1<
suggestion. But instead they are Offering all
manner of trivial excuses and technicalities
with the seeming desire of Withholding it from
such action. They affect to believe that a la rye
! majority of the people favor such a law, but
their actions would indicate that at heart thew
beheved otherwise. felt considerably
adopted by the leaders OF this movement in
attempting to force this Council through in
timidation to pass this ordinance We win not
be forced or intimidated.
Councilman Mott referred to the state
ment made by DR.. Coyle in regard to the
and his voice shook with emotion as he
said:
desire to contradict the statement and to
say that it is absolutely false and that this
Council has been wronged and slandered.
know 1t Is false, for know the honesty and in
tegrlty of my fellow members. We have beeu
mlsrepresented by Rev. Mr.. RAIDER, the presi-
dent of the Council for the Suppression OF
saloons. he SAID In an article which appeared
In morning paper he is credited with charg-
ing this body with being in league with the
saloon men. This is false. ex pected to sec
him deny that interview, but he has not done
so. and believe now that he must have used
the words credited to him. desire it to be
distinctly understood that / am in no way
allied with the saloon men. never got
| vote from them that 1 know of,
| and so they cannot expect my sup,
port. In conclusion l wish publicly
TO say to the Municipal League that have
verbally offered my resignation as member
of the Council to the president, and If the
| league is dissatisfied with my stand on this
| question they may have my resignation at this
or any future time. When officers who try to
do their duty are attacked by people who
| ought to be their friends, public office becomes
| distasteful and thing to be stunned by
honest men who have any consideration for
their characters.
Councilman Hoffman then renewed his
motion to lay the matter over for further
consideration. The lobby, which was
| crowded with friends of both the saloon
and Sunday-closing elements, was very
silent until the chairman announced that
the motion to lay on the table had been
carried, when the cheers that broke forth
were SO deafening that President Manuel's
voice counseling order was drowned. The
| motion was carried by one vote. the mem
bers voting as follows:
Ayes = Bassett, Brosnahan. Hoffman
! Mott, Watkinson and Manuel.
Noes-Buck]and, Capell, Dow, Marshall
and Towle.