The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-17
The Race mack orusade.

Az AshtO AGC
This note was received by mail at
the Office OF THE JERSEY CITY NEWS,
the day before yesterday
Editor Neps:-
Do the race track gamblers own The News
that you offend the God-fearing people OF this
STATE by praising them up to the skiesy
We do not notice Mr.. Truths letter
because we attach the slightest inn
portance to his rather impertinent in
quiry, but it affords an occasion for
defining our precise opinion on the
race track question in general and the
present political crusade in particular.
1t is probable that much may have to
be said on the subject in the next few
weeks, and a clear understanding as
to the principles we start from may as
well be established at once.
Our general position on the race
track question, then, is the counter
part of that which we have always
held regarding the liquor traffic. We
do not believe that the rights of the
very many should be s~ubordinated to
the follies OF the very few.
We observe as a simple matter OF
fact that thousands, v tens OF
thousands, enjoy exceedingly the
amusement of horse racing. In New
York and its vicinity there are prob
ably three hundred thousand people
who take a natural, reasonable, tenn
perate interest in the sport. They
harm nobody, and incur no harm
themselves from the amusement. 1t
is simply a way of making life pleas
ant to them, and we hold with all u
might, with all our sense of justice,
tkaa they have an overwhelming right
to the enjoyment, and that it is a
gross act of tyranny on the part Of the
State to say that it shall be taken
away from them.
Our eyes are not blind to the fact
that the thing which thus amuses say
three hundred thousand people, works
ruin and destruction to an occasional
individual. The fact is ~undeniable
and we do not dream for a moment Of
denying it. But we reply that the
number of persons materially injured
ON ''the turf is not one for every
thousand who find a genial, human,
and altogether honest and even
e~levating pleasure in it. We
hold that it is unjust and ven out
rageous to deprive ten thousand peo-
pie of their rights for the protection of
one weak idiot. and we say that if
such a system of legislation were to
be extended to its legitimate conclu-
sions, there is sno earthly form of
pleasure, and probably no form of ac-
tivity which must not be forbidden as
harmful and tempting to the weaker
brethren" For the common sense
of any man will show .him that
every pleasure, every form of bust
ness, even, is liable to abuse, and in
their abuses they are deadly and de-
structive in just the same degree as
the liquor saloon and the racetrack,
and cases might be cited without
number to prove their baneful effect.
But, someone will suggest, it is not
the horse racing that anyone objects
to, it is the bookmaking.
Do not be afraid. We are not try
ing to dodge the issue. We include
the bookmaking as a necessary feature
of race track sport. 1t would be mere
child's play to leave it out of
sight. We agree with the experts
that is a necessary element of
horse racing as a public am usement,
that there is nothing in the sport
without it, and so when we speak of
the racing we include the so-caIled
gambling element, and it is on this
basis that all our remarks are made.
We are willing to concede that if
legislation could be devised to check
the evils which have their origin in
the betting ring, it would be a
good thing, and all honest men
should support it. The proper
4ANLAl1AA16 Vi - AAA1No ~ NV 0OOR
makers to secure responsibility in the
management of the courses, laws to
exclude minors, a strong police super
vision over the grounds and the peo-
pie who run them, are all highly
desirable. and we urged the Legisla-
ture during the recent session to pass
such laws. Much might also be
said in favor of a local
option law, forif a rae track is especi-
ally distasteful to any community. the
people should certainly have the right
Of exclusion. But none of these things
viii crafty the narrow extrem-
lists who find no pleasure in
the sport themselves and who
therefore make no allowances
for the desires of others. Prohibition
is their cry. and we are against them
in this, just as we are in the matter of
the liquor traffic, and we believe in
the long run the great majority Of