The San Francisco call., 1897-02-22
FINALE. OF THE
< CITY COUNCIL
ignores the Desire of
Voters to Express Their
Opinion.
Citizens Wish to Be Allowed a
Free Preference of Repre-
sentatives.
Mercantile Bodies Do Natur ally
What They Decline 10 Do
Compu soriy.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FBANc1sco CALL


9O8 Broadway, Feb. Il. J
The action OF the City Council last
Wednesday night in refusing TO let The
matter of Sunday closing of saloons go be-
fore the people is certainly the most re-
markable piece of legislation that has
come from the City Hall. The result of
the question would have been to secure a
definite idea OF th E sentiment ofthe voters.
Then again it was not for the guidance
Of the present Council, but OF its success
sor; again, it was the expressed wish Of
certain members OF the Council two years
sAgo that the matter should be submitted
r. the people before the Council took upon
G,self the responsibility of closing the sa-
looms on Sunday by ordinance.
Yet the Councilmen who are now going
around telling the electorate how anxious
they are to thoroughly represent the people
refused 10 give that same people an oppor-
tunity of expressing their opinion at the
polls. Many people think that if q ma jor-
ity of voters voted for Sunday closing that
the matter would be settled at once, but
this is not so. The proposition was sim ply
TO allow the question to go before the
people so that the next Council might be
guided by the result.
The question that arises from the action
of fast Wednesday does not go to the mer-
It's or dement's of Sunday closing. Even
this Question, important as it is in the
eyes OF many people, is of secondary
weight compared to the significance of de-
nying the voters the privilege of express
ing their opinion even after the City At
tOrney had stated that it could legally be
done. The motive that actuated the ma
iority of the Council need not be discussed, ,
and the possible result of such a vote is q
g matter OF indifference when compared to
the injustice of denying a representative
body OF citizens the right to record their
preferences for the guidance of those who
profess to represent them. The presump-
ton that naturally arises is that had the
question been public parks instead of sa-
looms the right OF expression would still
have been withheld.
A few months ago a suggestion was
made in this column that if the mer-
Grants Of Oakland ever accomplished any,
thing OF merit, it would be by the united
action of all the mercantile bodies. This
suggestion has inadvertently been fol-
lowed. There is a Merchants Exchange
and Board of Trade, and for long time
there was feeling between them that
could scarcely be called harmoni Gus, al
though it was not exactly jealousy and yet
il was. However, when it became neces-
} sary for some steps to be taken to acquire
something for this city the natural thing
took place and all united.
This has been apparent on many occa-
sions and was first manifested In the ques-
.tion of public parks. The committee hav-
ing this in hand is composed OF member
of both bodies and of the Good r ads As
sociation. Then came the question of the
Valley Railroad, and a similar Joint COM
mitsee was appointed; then came the
State Falr project, and still another Joint
committee; then there was some indorse-
ment needed for several bills before the
Legislature, and this was done at joint
meeting. Now the question arises. whv
should two sets of headquarters and Off
cials be main tanned when the fact is retog-
nized that success can only be assured by
all pulling together? STUART w. BOOTH.