Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-06
ELM GROyE RAHROAD.
PETTY GAMBLING.
A Growing and an Alarming
Evil.

From the Boston Journal
Several of our exchanges have called
attention to what may be justly charac-
terized growing and an alarming evil,
namely, the increase OF gambling upon
a small scale in connection with profess
sional ball playing, walking matches and
other athletic sports, and III the com
binatiOn pool schemes which are found
i'm connection with many saloons IN
cities and larger towns. 1t Is true that
the selling of pools is prohibited in con-
nectiOn with the trOtting of horses and
the results of elections, but such pro-
hibitions apply to but small part OF
the mischief incident TO the extensive
mania for betting, particularly among
boys and young men. There is,indeed,
reason TO believe that the older and
conservative portion of society does not
realize the extent to which this mania
has pervaded large communities. In
some locations il is almost epidemic. 1t
is stated that i'm a Cincinnati clothing
house recently, six customers were
waiting for some to attend TO them, when
il was discovered that every one OF the
clerks had gone over TO a pool room.
The firm Immediately gave notice that
the frequenting OF such places would he
regarded as q cause for immediate dis
charge. IL is fair to presume that the
evil was stopped in that particular house,
and, ii firms are prudent elsewhere, they
will adopt similar rules when they find
their young men frequenting such re-
sorts.
As rule, boys and young men are
not so dishonest rs to take money OF
their employers without greater tempta-
ton than is to be found in the regular
routine Of duty. The exceptions to this
rule are rare indeed. Such crimes as
till-rObbing are generally committed I'M
der some greater excitement than q
mere temptation to appropriate the
property of employers. Could the nu-
merous and possibly increasing cases OF
the speculations of young men who are
clerks be investigated, and the real
causes OF the crime be ascertalned, 1t
would be found that those who have
finally become involved and ruined
never had it in view to rob employers.
They had seen an opportunity to make
money, as they thought, and have taken,
or as they consider it borrowed small
sums 10 engage in speculation. Nine
teen Of every twenty fail, and discovery
and ruin is almost inevitable, whether
the money is taken for 4 risk in a sa-
loon pool for favOrite in a horse or q
boat race, for California mining stocks,
or for Wall street ventures.
There is reason to fear that this small
Gambling bv one or another method Is so
rlpidly spreading a. To render it neCes-
Sary that steps should be taken to check
il. There are those who believe Legls-
latures can provide remedy. Doubt
less something can be done by the en-
actment and enforcement OF laws, but
experience teaches that such evils can
not be cilcctually checked in that way.
The most effective weapon Is IN the
hands of every employer. He can ex-
plain the matter 10 those he employs
and exact from such of them promise
that they will not engage in games OF
chance where money is involved OF ire
uuent places where such temptations
are presented. The young man who
intends to be upright and is sensible
will not object to taking or continuing
emplovment under such conditions.
Furthermore, the employer has right
to exact such pledge, not only for his
own security, but in order to insure
efficient service. The young man
whose attention is engrossed with sport
inc matters and betting, or who ire
auents pool rooms until late at night,
cannot give that attention to his duties
that IN pp,ployar has right 10 expect.