St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1891-06-13
-. OPEIOUSAs, La. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1891.
The Lottery Monopoly.
Shreveport Caucasian.

/
| Shreveport Caucasian.
The Caucasian believes in the rule Il,
the people, and not in the rule Of 3
gambling lottery monopoly.
We do not oppose the lottery schemes
on moral grounds alone.
Viewed from any standpoint the lot.
lery monopoly is a dangerous factor
| @deInoralizing society, corrupting poll
tics and impeding legislation.
It is a selfish, soulIess corporation
| controlled by few men, ready to sac.
rifice friend for foe if necessary to
maintain their monopoly power in this
State.
The lottery advocates claim with
considerable Eigor that the revenues
expected from the lottery are necessary
to relieve the State of financial bur-
dens, to advance the schools and other
Interests, and intimate that any com
pany on paying license could conduct
a business ola lottery in this State.
The events of the past refute such
allegations pointedly.
1t will be remembered that the first
offer of Mr.. Morris, submitted for spe-
eial privileges, was increased to 81 ,0OO,-
600 per annuln for twenty five years.
This increase was not dictated in a
philanthropic spirit or for the purpose
Of benefiting the State.
During the session of the last Legis-
lature there were strong competitors
against the Morris combine seeking
recognition, one being Newgass, who
offered 81 ,250,Oo0 per annu1n for the
privilege OF conducting a lottery bust
ness, for which he could have given
ample security as a guarantee for the
prompt payment OF the amount in
quarterly installments.
If the lottery advocates were sincere
in their plea to provide for the neces-
sites of the State they would have left
the field open to the biggest bidder
and the privilege awarded to the syn
dieate giving the biggest. pile of money.
But Louisiana was, and is not for
sale to the highest bidder, the scheme
already mapped out was, and is, to give
exclusive control to the Morris COM
bine, no one else.
It is evident that the advocates of
the lottery were concerned more in the
Morris combine than in the relief of
the States necessities, and it was only
when Representative Lawton of Al
giers stated in open session of the Leg
islature that while he was committed
to vote for the lottery, he would not
vote for the Morris proposition until
the one submitted by Newgass had
been considered, that the Morris COM
bine changed their tune and became
alarmed.
1t was only when Mr.. Lawton assert
ed that he could not afford by his vote
to cause the State to lose a quarter of
a million dollars annually that LaWton
received assurance that Morris propo-
sition would be raised as high as New
gasss that he voted for the so-called
revenue amendment.
At previous sessions x the Legisla-t
ture the Morris combine sileneed all
and would not permit com
petition now Or i'll the future. 1t sthen
sheer nonsense to intimate that any
company on paying license could en-
gage in the lottery business in this
State and curtail its monopoly's re-
ceipts. The Morris lottery could not
maintain itself if relieved Of the mo-
nopoly features. TO live it must con-
troll and, unfortunately, there are good
men temporarily misled, that seem in
,lined to strengthen and increase the
power OF this vicious institution denoun
ed by Governor McEnery in his mes
age to the Legislature in 1882 as "de-
noralizing society, corrupting politics
md impeding legislation"