The San Francisco call., 1899-01-29

tai alteration as an excuse for having
ever let go of it.
To write concerning a Legislature
and its hangers on is duty L would
have been glad to have escaped. To
| tell the truth is to wound, as there are
many things which do not look we'll in
print. l found at Sacramento that
there was necessity for attacking
friends, for they were on the wrong
side and employing methods upon
which Heaven could not smile. The
politician has a dual existence, but l
am unable to trace the dividing line.
In whacking the politician 1 more than
once bruised a good fellow. and it was
in the latter capacity that he came to
me later to protest.
There has been so much ba-ad talk
at Sacramento that it is a wonder no.
body has been thumped, cut or shot.
The climax of hostility seems to have
been reached when Major Mclaughlin
spat in the face of Goucher. Like many
others the major is there in double
capacity. AS chairman of the State
Central Committee he is working for
the glorification and advancement of
the party. AS plain Major Mclaughlin
he is whooping il up for Burns. l do
not know in which capacity he does his
splitting
Senator Simpson has introduced a
measure which will in all likelihood be
killed, as he will advocate it himself.
But it richly deserves this fate for the
principle of it is bad and vicious. This
bill is Sunday law. For many re-
formers one can have respect, but the
ultra -Sa abbatarian is ignorant, narrow
minded and selfish, crank whom the
impulse to thrust from the lobby, speed
ing his departure with a kick, is natural
and 1audable. have neither space nor
patience to go extensively into the
question he raises. There is only one
argument in favor of a Sunday law
and this is that everybody is entitled
to one day Of rest in seven. There is
not a craft nor calling in which the
employe cannot get a day off, and when
he gets that day 1 believe the attempt
to dictate to him what he shall do with
it is a piece of inexcusable imperti-
nence. The ministers think that If on
Sunday they could close every avenue
to pleasure and recreation, the multi
tude could be forced TO go to church.
They would have the parks shut up, the
trains to suburban resorts stopped, an
outing deemed a crime. Now people
will not go to church, because there
usually is neither profit nor joy in go
ing, and they do not propose that the
voice from the pulpit, to which they
do not listen, shall dictate to them as
to the conduct of their daily lives. They
will continue to take the children Sun
day and go out to the beach or the
woods, and the effort to prevent them
will not be tolerated. For my part,
after six days of toll, 1 am grateful to
get into the blessed sunshine and the
country air, and do not propose to turn
from this scheme to a sanctuary where
in gathers a highly reputable social
club, somewhat exclusive, listening to
doctrines the members do not practice,
and pretending to worship a master
from every tenet of whose sublime
teachings they have departed. For the
sincere Christian, who follows as close
ly as he may the footsteps of this great
teacher 1 have a warm regard, but it
is not this type which is now demand
ing a Sunday law for California. On
the contrary, it is the canting, snivel-
ing, hypocritical, holier-than-th va
riety, who constitute a burden to the
church itself and a nuisance to all
without the fold. Unless Simpson shall
succeed in talking this iniquitous meas
ure to death 1 shall take the liberty
hereafter of making a few remarks
about it,
If the Legislature has done anything
tending to the restriction of races I
have overlooked it, and yet the subject
is important. Racing as conducted in
this town and in Oakland is wicked,
representing not sport but gambling. 1t
thrives through the gullibility of suck
ers. 1t has lured countless young men
to ruin and dragged women to shame;
broken up families, caused embezzle-
ment, suicide and murder. Racing sup
ports an army of touts and vagrants,
and fills the pockets Of few con-
scienceless spectators. On its local
basis it is intrinsically fraud, a me-
mace to public morals, drain on in
dustry. There is no good to set over
against the ruin 1t accompliSheS, but it
fattens the bookies and other grafters
and is permitted to go on unhindered.
This is an outrage and shame. If
the money the race tracks take in could
appear to the promoters as it is, stained
with blood and dishonor, they might
not spend it so gaily. If the victims
could see themselves, flies struggling
helpless in a web, they might abandon
the game. But neither will see The
races should either be regulated or pub
lie Indignation should close them. AS
all the year round temptations they
blight and curse the community.
One Greene has arrived at Vancouver
with wild tale Of cannibalism to
which eleven of his comrades fell vic
Tins, while he, possibly being less sue
culent, escaped. Among other evidences
of his veracity Greene points to the
fact that the horrors he witnessed while
awaiting his turn to go into the pot
changed his hair snow white With
every possible sympathy for Greene 7