p. 9 | SOME MEN'S ASSUMPTION by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 3, 1904

SOME MEN'S ASSUMPTION.

By Editor

WE note in the Labor Leader a statement that at a certain Federation meeting a delegate gave notice that he would present for indorsement a bill which he proposed to have introduced in the Maryland Legislature. The object of the bill was to prohibit the serving or selling of intoxicating liquors over any bar in that State by a woman. Besides the impropriety of women being in places where they would hear conversation unfit for their ears, he added the argument that he expected by this means to create work for several hundred men who need it.

The purpose of the proposed measure was robbed of most of its virtue by this last feature. There are no men who need such employment. Much ado is made by the liquor traffic over the number of men who obtain employment under it. But every person not in sympathy with it knows that more men, women, and children are impoverished by it than gain a livelihood in connection with it. If the capital invested in it were invested in the production of necessary and useful articles, thousands more would have employment, or, better, have business of their own.

Another absurd idea in connection with the purpose of the bill to which we have alluded is, that it is worse for a woman to hear barroom conversation than for a man. It is one of the false notions of the world that men may legitimately indulge in indecent conversation that would be unfit for a woman to hear. Fortunately all men, even men of the world, do not so regard their prerogative. An incident in the life of Gen. U. S. Grant will illustrate this. It is said that, as a group of officers were chatting together, one of them was about to relate some obscene story, and apologetically remarked, "As there are no ladies present." But General Grant quickly responded, "No, but there are gentlemen present." And the story was not told.

Men ought to learn that they have no more right to be indecent than women have. The prerogative of barroom conversation, and the assumption of a right to engage in untoward pastimes, are without right, either moral or social, and the women can well afford to yield all the positions to which the assumed privileges attach.