Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-09
LANCASTER. PA. July 0, 1890
The Power Of aI0tterx.

Inc LOUISIANA Legislature mas paSseu,
over the governors veto, the law sub
mitting to the people the question of
continuing the lottery, which offers
million dollars year for the privilege (;
and will offer as much more us may be
necessary TO secure the privilege for
whatever the cost, it will not be paid by
the owners of the lottery, but by the
ticket buyers. The cost of the enter
prize being increased, the amount Of the
prizes distributed will be decreased ac-
cordingly. The bookkeeping Of the
lottery business being secret, the buyers
Of the chances have to take what they
are given. The proprietors of this
Louisiana lottery think that they have,
by their long continuance in business,
secured clientage which cannot be
shaken off by any disappointment of
their expectations.
1t Is the peculiar feature of the lottery
business that the buyers of the chances
are not discouraged by the failure TO
draw prizes. So long rs they believe
that there are big prizes to be drawn
they are not very particular as to their
number nor inquisitive as to their
chance of getting them. They trust
to their luck blindly and blame
1t only when they are disap-
pointed. This Louisiana scheme
has been very adroitly handled and
its possibilities In the way of profits are
well illustrated by the money offered for
the continuance Of the privilege. Two
distinguished Confederate generals super
wise the prizes drawings, which are sup
posed TO be fairly conducted. Indeed
there is no reason why they should not
be. No more prizes are TO he paid out
than the money paid in covers many
times over and 1t is only question as
TO who of the ticket buyers shall get the
percentage that the managers do not
take.
1t Ia a plan whereby great many
people put an equal quantity of their
money into pool for the purpose of
getting back agein, in unequal distri-
button, such of 1t as the pool managers
choose to distribute. II is plan where
by the managers Of the pool are given
absolute control Of all the MONEYS
raised ; and power according TO its mass.
This Louisiana exhibition shows the
degree of this power, aud vividly
demonstrates the danger to the
commonwealth that resides in the
concentrated power of money. This Is
. danger which our laws have always
recognized and which they have sought
70 avoid by prohibiting the entailing of
property to q long time of posterity. 1t
b danger which resides In the wealth
massed In corporations but the power
Of Its assault upon the state was never
better shown than in the case of this lot
terry, which has controlled the Leglsla-
turs, against every argument of propriety,
to put off upon the people, whose vote
the lottery money will be used to con-
troll, the question Of taking from the
constitution lottery prohibition that 1t
now contains. The sense of the state Is
all one way on the question, and with
the governor in condemnation of the
lottery but its vote il likely to be all
the other way, because the lottery peo-
pie can afford TO spend money
freely to secure privilege from which
they will soon regain Its cost. This priv
ilege which the state has given has SO
fattened and siren sthened its benefica-
ries, that they are stronger than the
state and they can override the gov
crnor's veto and its public opinion.