Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-14
LOTTERY ADVERTISING

lhe laws vi Cdlliorllld prOnlDlt alQ De-
ing given to any lottery by any sort of ad-
vertisement whatever. A miserable and
weakly attempt is made by some papers in
San Francisco and elsewhere to whip the
devil around the stump by advertising
lotteries by announcing their drawings.
They claim that such announcements are
without the line of the statutory prohibi-
ton, because they treat of past events
Yet no one but an idiot will attempt to
deny that the publication Of an account of
the drawing of lottery, and the "luck
of John, and Tom, and Bob, and how they
felt over their winnings, and how the
money was handed over to them, and how
they were congratulated by their friends,
is publication made for the express, only
and clear purpose Of advertising the
schemes of the lottery, and inducing other
poor fools to enter into the net and be
swindled. Plainly, there is nothing but
contempt to be entertained for such as put
up the transparent disguise of past fact to
shield them from penalties affixed for pres
ent law-breaking. Yet this is precisely
what several San Francisco papers have
been doing. If they have not ad-
vanced the excuse, it is known that their
act is based on it. The Chronicle, the Alta,
and we think the Examiner also, and we are
not hot ~ Ind tI,a
Post, are violators of the law, or have been
recently, in this direction. If we mistake,
we stand ready to correct the error. Now
men have a great deal more respect for the
journal that takes the bit in its teeth, and
publishes the advance announcements of
the lotteries, and takes the chances. For
such paper they have some admiration.
1t does not sneak behind subterfuge, say
ing, ave print this because it is outside
the prohibition ST the lava lottery is
damnable thing; a cursed and to be cursed
swindle; all should beware of it; but we
print the flaming story Of how Bobby
Jones did draw $4,000 last month"; and
how Keziah Mulligan, in soap suds and at
wash tub, was surprised by the news that
she was at last rich woman, thanks to
her foresight in buying a ticket in the
lottery" No! Such bold journals as we
refer to say in effect, "a lottery is a good
thing 1t offers us chance to make pile
on small capital. He who risks nothing
shall win nothing. Come on, fellow men :;
read our advertising columns and see
what the lottery offers in the way of
cheap chances. THETA tells us not to adver-
tise the lottery, but we take the chances.
We are paid well for our work, and we can
stand the possible punishment" Such
paper is the Grass Valley Union, which
does not whine and pettifog, but openly
prints, for a round price, the advance adj
vertisement of the scheme of the lottery
that sends it coin to compensate it for the
risk it takes. If the publisher of the
Union is arrested, as he ought to be, along
with the publishers Of the Alta and Chron-
icle, and fined roundly, as they should be,
the lottery agency will pay their fines, as
they have done in similar cases. What
will be gained, however, will be some adj
ditiOn to the County Treasures and the
vindication of the law But in advance
we bespeak for the publisher of the Union
the clemency of the Court, since he has
had the bravery to do openly what the
others have gone about Robin Hoods barn
to accomplish. He should be favored, if it
is possible.