The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-19
The Lottery There and Here.
From the Public Ledger.

Mr.. EDITOR: There is a lottery in
in the air, and it is an evil sign. Penn
sylvania remembers with shame that,
q century ago, departing from the
straightforward policy of her founder,
the rich lands at the forks of the. Del
aware were fraudulently acquired from
the indians and disposed Of by. lot
terry. Are the avowedly Christian leg
kota, at this late day, ready to write on
the white page of their first years his
tory that the unholy spirit of specula-
ton and gambling is so rare the wide
country through that they deem it de-
sirable to promote its growth by appro-
pirate legislation? No, no! Let Lou
isiana warmly nourish her notorious
lottery scheme, If she will, but let
North Dakota, true to her climate
and to her God, freeze it out! s
But, while we would fain say to our 5
lottery tempted brethren near the
Canada border, stand clear, there has
been lately advertised among us-ad-
vertised even in the religious papers
a dangerous lottery scheme to tempt
the pupils of Sabbath schools. "King's
Daughters" Christian Endeavor So
cieties, etc., who will have known
nothing whatever of the Louisiana
lottery, save by rumor. This device
is an invitation to take chances at
guessing the number of beans contain-
ed in certain sealed jar. ("Sealed
securely" says the large displayed
advertisement, "and deposited with
the - Trust Company"), and to be-
of the number of the. fortunate 1896
persons who should make the nearest
guesses, and so be entitled to presents
of the (asserted) value Of from 81 to
$3.50.
Having noticed this mischievous an
nouncement in two religious newspa-
pers which take, and which came to
me the. same day, it appeared to me
to be worth while, in the interest of
good morals, to look little into the
matter. District Attorney Graham
unhesitatingly gave his opinion in
writing, that the advertisement in
question "gives notice of what is q
lottery scheme used as an advertise
ment," and, in his judgment, "par-
ties receiving or publishing such an ad-
vertisement would be violating the
law.n The advertising association,
who was placing it in the religious
papers, admitted the wrong, and
the matter, for the present, is held in
allegiance.
Many may wonder that such a pal
pable misunderstanding device should
obtain entrance to religious newsps-
pers. The error which I mention
here, with the hope of it's being cor
rected, was in the editor or publisher,
Or both, surrendering the control Of
his advertising columns to an outside
association. One "Rev. Dr." mot Of
this city, wrote that he objected to the
advertisement referred to, but it was
forced in, despite his protest. "Under
the exclusive advertising management
of the - Association" appears on,
another paper. Now, is this wise, and
is it just? .
The paper, by its name and proba-
bly, the responsible editor rather than
the publisher, are held accountable in
the public estimation when 2 scandal
Gus or Otherwise improper advertise
mcnt appears, and further, the surren-
der of absolute control over whatever
is permitted to go into the paper would
seem to constitute q withdrawal from
or thrusting aside condition of re-
sponsibility which lays the innocent
readers open to grave dangers. While
rightly and earnestly condemning the
Louisiana lottery, whether in New Or
leans or wherever else it essays to find
lodgment, let us use reasonable dill
gence to keep away from our own bor-
ders every entangling device of essen
TALLY the same demoraliZing and iile-
gal character.
JOSIAH w. LEEDS.