St. Landry democrat., 1891-08-01
The Lottery not Political.


shreveport Times.
The Donaldsonville Chief takes ex-
ceptlOn to the Times assertion that the
question of the revenue amendment
should have nothing to do with politics,
and says: The idea of keeping the
lottery out of politics, by putting it in
the constitution, and imposing a license
OF 81 100000 year upon it is chimeri-
cal" This does very well for an asser
| ton, as we'll as the further statement
that it has been in the constitution for
a dozen years, and in politics ever since
its incorporation" but our contempora-
ry will pardon us if we call his atten-
ton to the fact that it does not stand to
reason to suppose that if q corporation
has secured charter, Incorporated in
the constitution of a State, and which
can not be repealed by any edct, or
partlfan dlctum of any elected official
of the State, that the said corporation
could possibly have any interest in in
| terferng or taking part in the election
OF said officials, or that it would pay
! them to attempt to control the politics
OF the State. 1t is unquestionably the
case that the lottery, OF any other cor
porate body seeks to make money out
OF their business, and also stands to
reason that it would be absurd for them
w PioNohC oillCl OIlll-
cal fights are always invested with
more or less bitterness of feeling, par
ticuarly factlonal fights within party.
Why then should this, or any corpora
ton, which has no political ends to
serve, and which only proposes to make
money cut OF its business, desire to pro-
woke such antagonlsm MS always results
from espOuSlng the cause OF one OF the
opposing sides?
Ii 1t were the case that the existence
OF Its charter depended upon the election
OF some factions candidates to the
State offices there would be reason for
It's taking an active part in the choice of
those who favored the extension of its
corporate existence, but the Chief we'll
knows that this is not the case. and that
no governor or any official, who might
be elected within the next twenty-five
years, could have any power, whatever
his personal views might be, to annul a
constitutional amendment ratified, and
rendered Il part of the constitution, by
the majority of the votes of the people.
Why then should the lottery have any
interests in politics which could not
affect their business for the time of
their constitutional limit, aud which
would prove an outlay with no returns
The suppositlon is an absurdity upon
Its face. The plain facts of the case are
simply these; that the lottery desires a
continuance of its charter under which
1t is making money, and expects to con
tinue SO doing. For this privilege it
offers an immense revenue to the State, !
in the form of a license amounting to
S31 ,250, 600 for the twenty-five years of
its solicited charter. 1t has nothing in
common with the politics of the State,
and has no interest, as a body, in them, |
and proves such to be the case by ask
ing its charter to be Incorporated in
the constitution as an amendment to
same, which can not be repealed by the
desire of any faction, official or Legis- |
lature, but only by the power by which
it was made enactive, the vote of the |
people.
The only effort to force the lottery
question into politics is being made by
the ants, and they are working it for
all that il is worth, hoping by means
OF working on the prejudices Of those
opposed to the lottery, to secure votes,
and elect men who would otherwise be
promptly politically showed under.
The scheme, however, is too transpar-
ent, and will not work.
The people will vote men to office
with reference to their ability and polit-
lea! record alone, and will vote upon
the revenue amendment as a side issue,
according to their judgment ard con-
science, as to its beneficial, or injurious
effects upon our State and people.