St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-19
THE LOUISIANA STRUGGLE.

The fight in Louisiana over the lot
terry business is Of national interest, and
will be watched all over the country.
With the advantage of long possession
and the enormous bride offered. the i'm
preston is natural that success would
be assured. Perhaps the fact that the
lottery has so long been tolerated there
has given a dubious tinge to the moral
atmosphere in that direction, as seen in
the distance, and led to the impression
that incorrigible virtue was not the
prevalent characteristic there. But the
sturdy fight being made by the governor
and those who follow his lead against
the new lease of life sought by the
moral cancer challenges admiration and
intense sympathy. The anti-lottery
league, comprising most of the better
elements of the state, is making fight
that merits success. One of its re-
cent publications sets forth some
details that show the formidable
character of the Institution that
has so long fattened at the expense of
the country. The stock of the company
comprises 10000 shares. the par value of
which is 500, but they cannot be
bought for less than $1,000. A small
number of preferred stockholders take
half the profits, and the rest makes up
the dividends on the regular stock. A
bonus to the state of $1,000,000 for
twenty-five years can be paid without
impairing the value of the stock. This
shows the enormous margins that re-
aFt0 l,o af al
lecting the money all over the country,
and at times paying considerable sums
in prizes. The Immediate step essen
tial is to secure two thirds of the men,
berS of the legislature now in session.
This body was elected TWO years ago
without any reference to the lottery
matter, and it does not appear just how
it is disposed in relation to it.
The lottery wants the legislature to
submit to the people the amend
ment to the constitution extend
ing the lease of the lottery life
in that state that expires in 1891. There
must be two-thirds vote of the legisla
ture for this. This is the only bulwark
seriously III the way of the lotter Y
scheme, apparently. Happily for the
good people of the state, there are but
few Republicans in the legislature. The
strength of the lottery interest is in the
Republican elements. That party in
augurated the thing in the carpetbag
era, and the governor, in his message,
refers to the fact that it is still largely
i'll the hands of the men who chartered
it after the war. 1t would not be fair
statement that the masses of the Repub-
lican voters in the North are any less
honest and moral than Democrats; but
in Louisiana, as in some other Southern
states. the vicious and mercenary ele-
mentS are mainly with the Republican
party. The lottery people would have
the substantial support of the Republi-
can machine, and would be able to buy
negroes and whites enough to carry tn e
popular vote. They come to the legis-
lature with over flowing hands and the
inSidiouS suggestion that they should
avoid taking the responsibility by sub
hitting the question to the voters of the
state. If they had to buy $4,000 voters,
a half-million dollars would go great
ways. Then S1,00O,00O saved in taxes
every year will be bride to taxpayers.
There would be small hope of saving
the state from their clutches if they
secure the legislature. A paragraph
from the message of the fearless gov
ernor will indicate the intensity of the
struggle and realization of the resu 1t.
He says:
81 am addressing men OF Louisiana.
who know as well as | do the value of
my words when say to them that
Should this lottery get firmly planted in
this state it will own and hold the pur-
chasable vote solidly in the hollow of
its hands forever, and through it and by
it the liberties. the property and the
honor of the people of Louisiana will be
at its feet.
at would make and unmake govern
ors, Judges, senators, representatives.,
commissioners Of election. returning of