The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-13
NORTH DAKOTA LOTTERY.

IL Is peculiar and almost humoron
reason which was advanced in the NORTH
oaKota legislature for the passage of tn.
Dill authorizing the establishment of LOT
terry IN that state. 1t is this, sthe protec-
ton of the state against great losses ,iohIe
10 be incurred by sending large amounts r.
o'nei States ana 1orelgn countries for the
purchase of lottery tickets and devices
and second, to establish solvent and re.
haple nome institutions for operating and
conducting lotteries and for the sale of
lottery tickets" This is an assumntiop
that lotteries are creditable, praisewortby
institutions so long as they are conducted
among ourselves;" that is tn
say, If the money which thew
gather shall not be sent .,yo'
from the local community. 1t also assumes
that the selling of lottery tickets is a ner-
1ectly legitimate business, SO long as il is
conducted by solvent and reliable home
institutions" In the light of the tendeno,,
OF the times the Dakota solon poses pecni.
larry. For half century past, or longer.
popular sentiment In all countries has been
running against lotteries. This sentiment
mas been strong enough to drive them from
Great Britain and most of the countries of
continental Europe. In the United States
there Is but one state where lottery can
be legally conducted, and even there public
opinion against it became so pronounced n
year or two ago that provision was in |
serted In the constitution forever
1orplddlng the giving of charters tn |
lottefles within the borders of Lou
isiana. The United States government,
has fought the Institution most vigorously
through the postal department There
nas even been talk of an amendment to
the federal constitution forbidding lotter.
les. In view of these facts, can it be re
garoed otherwise than as remarkable that
one Oh the newest states, state inhabited
by supposedly bright and progressive
people, should signalize her admission nv
lying In the face of the best sentiment of
Inc country and the time, and legalizinp
and encouraging practice which is nor
'nly tabooed, but which is INDUCED in bv L
is yotaries and victims in secrets a
The newspapers generally are denoun- t
ing the Dakota legislators ia severe terms a
md some journals go SO far as 70 h
openly charge bribery. It ie I
SNiSN d~oo nuauy VI our contemporaries a
10 not understand the situation. The real r
eason for the permission of lotteries b
hould be no reason at ALL 1t is the same Fl
S that which urges in some places the N
ropriety of licensing gambling: houses N
nd houses of il-fame. The milk in tho Il
ocoanut is found in the requirement that W
ne lottery company shall pay into the A
'easury of the state $4,000 for the fran h
hise, and $4,000 per amman quarterly in til
1yance. 1t is the money which sanctifies as
lie sin in the minds of the lawmakers ia
nd the necessities of the new state make
fashionable methods FOR obtaining cash an
'em less Objectionable than they would GA
ader other circumstances. The fact is. is
orth Dakota in bankrupt. The treasury
empty, debt is piling up, the current ex OF
'nses of the government are not ~ ~
ct, public institutions are suffering, and n
ere is no where tn look for relief. rit
ne masses of the people are thi
'or, and through partial faiIu4. Of crups ne.
the past two or three years, the in rec
'Dltants of large districts are day being ~
ppolted by charity, while subscriptions ~ r
pelng taken up throughout the country ritz