The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-12
A CoNIMENDABLE COURSE.

tOn COURsE.
The Chicago Hlter-Ocedn, while in no
way surrendering its claim to being one
of the first-class newspapers of the West,
gives notice that it will no longer give
reports of the pretended contests at the
Chicago race track known as Garfield
Park. The Inter-Ocedn will continue to
take an interest in all manifestations of
true sport. 1t does not, however, con-
slider the contests at Garfield park sport
in any sense. From the beginning of
time men have taken, and to the end of
time men will take, deep and healthy
interest in the honest testing of the
mettle of blooded horses, says the Inter
Ocean. 1t is an interest observable in
all countries where men and horses exist.
But there are conditions necessary to
true sport. One is that it shall not be
cruel, another is that il shall be honest.
The racing at Garfield Park is not
honest and it is cruel"
1t certainly is cruel TO run horses at
full speed over track that is one day
hard with frost, on a second thick with
snow, and on the third perhaps heavy
with mud. 1t certainly is an exhibition
of dishonesty when horse wins one day
against a field of supposed cracks, and
in the next is beaten in much slower
time by a lot of so-called plugs, only to
be brought out again to win on the fol-
lowing day. 1t certainly is, as the Inter
Ocean says, gambling in its worst form.
In Chicago lit is doing the same work,
corrupting youth, plundering fools, inn
poverishing families, and making
thieves, that the pool-rooms did before
an aroused public sentiment compelled
their abolition. 1t is form of vice
which the police should suppress in
stantly, if there be law for its suppress
sion, or for the suppression of which the
next legislature should make provision
If it does not now exist"
Chicago is not alone, in the possession
| of one of those pestiferous race tracks
There is one in New Jersey, within an
hours journey from the heart of New
York, conducted under the influence of
a gang of Democratic political tricksters,
whose power extends AZ far as the capi-
tai at Trenton. Every day during the
winter months, whether the sun shines
or it is made unpleasant by rain, sleet
or snow; whether the Thermometer
ranges up in the fifties or down near the
zero mark, the horses are brought out
and the alleged races take place. Nor is
this the only complaint to be made. If
gambling was confined to the tracks and
only the fools who attended the races
were the losers, the world might find sat
isfaction in that fact. The telegraph
though ticks the entries and the results
of the races TO all the big cities, and
hundreds Of gambling houses in the
g1Iise of commission rooms are in ex-
istence with wide open doors, to entice
youths and men to invest and to lose
their money. Laws are in existence in
nearly all the states forbidding this evil.
In few of the states however are these
laws enforced. The money of the
gamblers has powerful effect on the
men who are sworn to protect the peo-
pie from the gambling shark as well as
from the more open criminal.
If other newspapers would follow the
example of the Chicago Inter Ocean and
refuse TO publish accounts of the So
called races; if they would rise up in
common, protest against the gambling
pool rooms as they have against the
Louisiana lottery evil, this so-called
winter sport would die from lack of pat
ronage. Truly the Mter-Ocedn might
just as well publish record of the cards
last left in the box in the State street faro
game as the results of the Garfield Park
races.