The record-union., 1896-10-05
ONE RAY OF SUNSHINE.

A woman by the name Of Craven who
has been an instructor Of the young in
the city of San Francisco for many
years claims to be the contract wife of
the late Senator Fair. She claims to hold
deeds to half a million dollars worth
of property given her for the considera-
tion of love and affection. In conhrTna-
ton Of the genuineness Of the consider
alton written into these deeds, she
claims to have entered into a private
marriage contract with the late Senator
Fair, and therefore Is his widow. This
marriage relation. which, however fully
and completely consInnInated, was
mover confessed. was in centravention
Of every principle Of morality.
It Ia significant fact that the only
people who have surviving contract
wives are erotio mdltonaires. and this
fact raises the presumption Of fraud on
the part of such claims If contract
marriages are legitimate; if an agree
1nent to be married sanottf1es the cohab-
itation Of the sexes, some instances
would be found where a poor man had
entered into that relation But this
never occurs. It IS only where such
claim may be the basis Of claim for
thousands or even millions OF dollars
that women can afford to confess the
degraded relation of a contract wife
This Mrs Craven, Notwithstanding
the scandal which the claim of rela-
tionship TO the Late Senator Fair gave
rise to, still retains her position IA the
educational department of San Fran
cisco. Recently a test was made of the
legitimacy OF that relation. Her friends
on the Board Of Education Of the Bay
City concluded that the board should
IN measure give the woman a certifi-
cate OF good character. A motion was
made granting her a leave Of absence
which. If passed, would give her official
recognition as teacher and would be
the equivalent Of vote Of confidence in
her favor. sfti9g
TO this recognition OF her respecta-
biltty as an educator and one charged
with the sacred office of forming the
mind and character of young girls,
thare Was one man with sufficient moral
character accompanied by the neces-
sary moral courage to object There is,
therefore, at least one man IN San
Francisco ready and willing to con
denim as inannorai the secret marriage
Contract system It gives US Infinite
pleasure to present for the cornnlenda-
ton OF the friends OF popular education
Charles A. Murdock, a printer by pro-
fession-
Mr Murdock served In one session Of
tha Legislature as AsseTnblymsn from
San Francisco, and made an exception
ally good record for ability and honesty
But nothing he has ever done will SO en-
dear him to the friends of the free
school system of America as this vote
Of condemnation by which in effect he
declares the secret marriage contract to
be In it's very nature immoral
The free school system of this country
has many instdtous foes. But there are
none more dangerous to its perpetuation
than the man who Is willing to retain
teachers Of doubtful character In their
positions as educators. Nothing but the
most enfeebled moral conviction would
consent to this species of degradation;
degrading alike TO the schools and TO the
school board guilty Of this monstrous
rnalfeasance In Office. Teachers are ex-
ernplars Of their precepts, or their pre-
cepts have no value whatever. Teachers
should not only be pure In their private
lives, but In their regulations far above
suspicion
The retention OF the contract wife Of
a dead millionaire in the educational
aepartment of the city of San Francisco
&c not only disgrace to that city, but Is
hIow at the free school system OF
Anertca. It Is a weapon in the hands
os rhoxs who declare the schools to be