St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1891-05-16
THE LOTTERY Asa POLITICAL
BUREAU.

l. =
BUREAU.
The Lottery since its inception, ha
been the greatest political power ii
Louisiana. 1t has waxed in power an,
extended it's influence, until it has be
come almost paramount in the State
But for the decided and firm opposi
tion of Governor Nichols and tn,
Spartan band of patriots in the legisla
ture, the Lottery would now contro
or be supported by every department
of the State government and only tn,
people, the better class Of people
with few exceptions. WOULD be agains1
lit.
Only once in its career III i receiv
ed a backset that promised d be So
rious. The legislature to serve under
Gov. Nichols first Germ, repealed it:
charter; and he approved the bill
While the case was pending in the
courts, the constitutional convention
of 1879 was held and the Lottery
seduced enough of its members to get
incorporated in the new constitution
While it gave up its monopoly privi.
lege by this incorporation, it has al.
ways welded enough influence in the
legislature to prevent the chartering
of any other lottery, which would have
paid the State as many thousand dol
lars as itself without increasing the
lottery evil. This is positive orooi
that the Lottery cares not fig for the
interest of the State. The constitu-
tional provision declaring there shall
be no lottery in this State after Janu-
ary first, 1895, the Lottery is taking
steps to violate by corrupting public
officials and the voters themselves.
If the Lottery should become en-
trenched again in the constitution, it
can easily get rid of the payment of
that promised 81, 100000 per annum.
1t managed to hold on to monopoly
privilege that it had given up. When
it gets possession of the State govern
ment, in all its branches, and it will
have complete possession of it, if the
Lottery amendment should be adopt
ed, it can plead inability to pay the
bonus, have subservient legislature
and governor to pass constitutional
amendment to that effect, and have it
adopted, by counting it in, if neces-
sary.
The hostility of the United States
government and Of the people and
Of all the other States to
the Lottery, is SO great that its profits
have been reduced to such an extent
that it will not be willing, and possibly
not able to pay the amount promised.
When the promise was made the pros
poets were much fairer than they
have been since then the Federal an
postal law had not been
passed, the Express companies had not
refused to be Lottery agents, the
church conventions had not condemn
ed it, the Farmers Alliance had not
condemned it, the governments of
other States had not generally con-
demned it, and no movement had
been set on foot to have an amend
ment made to the Federal constitu-
tion against lotteries.
Through the force Of circumstances
the Lottery, if rechartered, must dwin-
die to State institution in reality, in
its operations, as in name. The dwind-
ling process has been going on so
rapidly, that within less than twelve
it has been almost reduced to
that strait. The fall in the value
of its stock during that time, has been
unprecedented. With such a narrow
field for future operations, it can not
or will not be willing to pay the State
all the money it promised in the
plenitude Of its prosperity. When the
Lottery gets another charter, it will
hatch some successful scheme to get
put Of paying this large sum OF money.
especially machine gam
blers, do not run their machines to
enrich others and impoverish them
selves.
But the Lottery is not to be given
up, il it does not, and il it should not,
make as much money as formerly
There are still good pickings in Louisi-
ana, especially in New Orleans and
the Lottery can reduce expenses and
still make money. Mr.. Morris has1
plenty, and he may continue to have
only nominal interest in it. The
two Confederate generals who are paid
4 big price to do nothing, can be dis
charged. But Mr.. Morris must not
drop out with his Lottery and leave
his political friends in the lurch. As
they have to a great extent sacrificed