The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-28
AGAINST THE
CORNER GROCERY
The W. C. T. u. Will Be
After It With a Sharp
Bill.
One Rest Day in the Seven for the
Laborer- Legislative
Acts.

When the solons, newly elected and
hod-overs, meet at Sacramento in the
coming Legislature they will be well
comeu by the Womans Christian Tenn
perance Union. As a matter of fact, they
will De welcomed by number of other
people, among whom will be those repre-
senting the liquor interests, and this alone
will indu the ladies of the State w. c. T.
q. to be in the Capital City when The law
makers arrive.
AT the head of the forces for Christian
temperance will be the president of the
union, Mrs. Sturdevant Peet, the ab!est
worker in the cause on the coast. She will
be assisted by the most energetic ladies in
the association, and it is their determine
ton to move the capital, if posi- BILE, in
their efforts to bring about the passage OF
several acts in which they have become
interested. First, is what they call the
corner grocery law by which the COM
mercial establishment known under that
title shall cease to retail intoxicants, and
deal only in a stock less alcoholic.
The second is a Sabbath law which will
prevent employers from working their
laborers seven days in the week. It is not
intended that the proposed act shall set
legal day OF rest and the workman may
choose his period of recreation from the
seven.
third measure which will claim the
attention of the union is the "age OF con-
sent" AT the last Legislature a bill
passed both houses raising the time when
a young woman is completely mistress of
her own actions from IA 10 Is, but Gov
ernor Budd neglected 10 sign it; hence the
work of getting il through the Legislature
must be done over.
State Recording Secretary Mrs Dorcas
]. Spencer of the W. G. I. U. said in an
interview yesterday that they would have
a strong delegation of earnest workers in
Sacramento when the Legislature met.
"Our president, Mrs Peet," said she.
'wno is well equipped for labor in COM
mittee-room or drawing-room, and who
can meet a lawmaker in Senate-chambe Der
or G Courthouse, will see that our measures
get fair hearing. Our principal work will
be on our corner grocery bill. If it be-
comes law the line will be sharply drawn
between the business of the man who sells
the public its necessary food and the
other man who deals out alcoholic mix
lures.
"The corner grocery is an injury alike to
the legitimate grocery business and to
society. The proprietor of the monde
script place by his bar, his prosperous
retail business in whisky and beer, can
more than hold his own with the grocer
proper. The corner grocery is a menace
to the neighbor hood because it will draw
a custom that the saloon cannot reach.
People will walk in past the stacks and
shelves of groceries to the bar in back
room when they would not enter the
other place. Moreover, the corner gro
Gerry is a favorIte Sunday loun ging place
for young men and boys, the latter being
unable to frequent the saloon.
'tBoth classes go to this place because it
is freer and the drinks cheaper.
'Of course the corner grocery men will
say such a law Is unconstitutional, etc.,
but known as the Nicholson law in Indi-
ana it has stood all tests since it was en-
acted, a number of years ago. The Supe-
rior Courts have upheld 1t and the Su-
preme Courts of that and three other
States have confirmed it, and the man
who sells groceries cannot retail intoxi-
eating liquors.
Now, in regard to our other measure,
the day of rest said Mrs. Spencer. 1--WE
have no desire 20 cross the corner of any
pody's belief regarding the Sabbath.
1--WE wish TO leave every one free to rest
when convenient, but we want law that
will let the laborer have one day in seven
to himself By this man working by the
month cannot be forced to labor those
thirty days without rest days. These will
be vouchsafed him by law. do not think
any confusion will result from such a
law, as l. once lived in neighborhood
where there " as a Large number of Sew
enth-D Day Adventists Their factory bells
and our church bells, and vice versa.
would blend together very sweetly. While
one part of the community worked the
other prayed, and peace abode there.
The bill raising the age of consent
from IA to Is passed last session under
such favorable auspices and with such
tine majority that we have no fears of our
success this year. Governor Budd should
have signed the bill, and we cannot un-
derstand why he let il remain in his
pocket till too late. If he had let it be-
come law those North Beach fiends
would all probably have been sent to San
Quentin.
The Woman's Christian Temperance
Union has mapped out its work. and it
will be true to its principles as the cham
pion of good morals"