The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-23
GAMBLING.

Everywhere the demoralizIng practice of
gambling is prudently denounced by press
and pulpit, and by public opinion. Legis
lation is invoked and laws are enacted max
ing it "a misdemeanor. Sheriffs, Constable
and policemen raid gambling dens and ar
rest offenders. They are tried and punished.
Everybody, that is to say, the well wishers
of society, approve the programme and
shout go ahead" Under such circum-
stances, it would be reasonable to suppose
that society would oppose all sorts of gam
bling, but, unfortunately, such is not the case.
To bet on dice, or any of the games in which
cards are used, or any game at
all is what is denominated
gambling. So ii is believed
to be equally demoralizing and vicious to
bet on numbers drawn in a lottery, but,
strange to say, it is not particularly objec.
tionable to bet on elections, boat races and
horse races, base ball, or the price of wheat,
or other produce sold on Change. In re-
cent issue the Philadelphia Press remarked
that grain speculation may well be 'ner-
vous, as our Chicago dispatch puts it. 1t is
nothing to-day but the rankest gambling.
Whether August wheat will be dollar wheat
or twenty or thirty cnts higher no one can
tell without a knowledge of next months
weather, and not the keenesr speculator knows
that" Those who have the leisure to give
the subject proper investigation will be
likely to conclude that betting on the price
OF August wheat is far more vicious in its
influence upon society than betting on a
game of draw poker, keno, faro or such
other games as are played in gambling
dens," or on the "wheei of fortune" as it is
turned by lottery gamblers. The st. Louis
Republican takes the same view OF the sno
ject as is expressed by the Philadelphia
Press, and in commenting upon the opinion
voiced by that paper, says:
1t is an entirely just characterization of this
called speculation to call it nothing today but
the rankest gam bling" 1t has not one feature or
element of business In 1t. 1t gives productive
employment to not one human being. II benefits
not one soul except In just so far as IL Injuries
others. II disturbs industry by forcing the ele-
ment of uncertainty into the trans
actions which encourage production. 1t
diminishes legitimate and healthy con-
sumption by fictitious prices, to be fol-
lowed by depression induced by interference
with just demand and supply. 1t is rank gam
bling of the most injurious kind. 1t ought to be
noted as an evidence of unreliability and uu-
trustworthiness on the part of every individual
and firm which INDUCES in it, and especially so
among young men. The proposition is self-evi
dent that that is reprehensible in real or
assumed business which can enrich one man only
by the losses of another. The most ordinary un-
Outstanding ought TO be able to seize and appIe-
ciate so elementary truth as this.
This gambling on Change has every con-
sumner in the land for its victim. Fictitious
prices on Change become real prices to CO:
sumers. If August wheat" can be forced
up it will advance the price of every bushel
of wheat in the country until August wheat
is ready for the market. As a result gam.
bling on Change in the food products of the
country makes dear food in every working
mans home. Gambling dens have at most
an influence of limited area, and as com
pared with gambling on Change in
wheat, comparatively few victims, and as
such transactions are known to be the rank
est gambling" why are they not tearlessly
denounced? Manifestly very important
screw is loose in the machinery employed in
the manufacture of public sentiment, and,
as a result, it may be inferred, as long as one
sort of gambling is tolerated and approved,
other methods of winning money will be
practiced. What Is wanted is such public
sentiment that every gambling device shall
be ostracised. tabooed and made odious.