The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-01-20

Nrw YoRK, Jan. 10.-Tho Rev. John
L. scudder, pastor OF the Jersey City
Tabernacle, spoke last night against the
Guttcnbuig race track. lie said:
"Oncc moro the tocsin OF war Is being
sounded in Hudson county and every
decent citizcnis called upon to do his
utmost in dcmolishing the demon whose
lair Is the Guttenburg race track. |
am aware that the odds against us III
this warfare arc tremendous, for the
power OF this accurscL ring, Which has
blcd Jersey City in past years and BY
continued ballot-bcx stultiDg has even
deprived US OF our liberties, is only
known to those who have studied its
tactics and iathomcd its nudacity., Yet
we need not despair. II is tho nature
OF every boil to burst, every political
ring to become so overbearing and COR
rupt az to insure its own downfall. |
am convinced that the condition OF
things in this county is too corrupt to
last much longer, Tor dissolution follows
quickly on the heels OF putreiaction.
"l.ook, for example, ut this giant
gambling establishment Mt Guttcnburg
which carries on its Ubiquitous business
under the pretcnae Of horse racing, and
which is encouraged and protected by
many OF our prominent politicians.
What hunlbug to give tho name OF
racing to the running OF horses in mud
and slush to-day and upon tho frozen
ground MS hard as rock tomorrow.
What horsesacould make time under
such circumstances And what sort Of
Il race is thatin which not horse can
be seen by reason OF the fog? When
went to Guttcnburg lnoticed that tho
spectators did more racing than the
horses. They started from the grand
stand and raced to tho gambling pa
vilion; stalking their money, they all
raced back again. And 4 tough looking
lot OF racers these bipods were. Such Il
prostitution OF the turf as one observes
ut Guttenburg is enough to make leGiti-
mate sportsmen indignant, and this
systematic cruelty to horses in winter
racing ought to cause the arrest OF their
heartless owners. These dumb beasts
are mere puppets in the hands OF un-
scrupul0us gamblers.
n "And what destructive influence
this aCcursed business has upon the
youth and manhood OF Hudson county,
Z. to say nothing OF Newark and New
York. Only last week l received
heartrending letter from mother in
Harrison, in which she described the
utter ruin OF her son and n company OF
young men who frequented the pool
rooms-those Geographic extensions of
the Guttcnburs nuisance. She be-
sought me to do my utmost to close
( them up, but whatcan one man, oreven Il
thousand men, do against such an evil,
bolstcrcd up as It is by political intlu-
encc and powerful enough to ignore all
law and make sport OF justice?
Last year the Law and Order league
opened its batteries upon this shame
less evil but without avail, for this
wealthy coterie Of gamblers had so ma
nipulated the grand jury that that body
refused to bring in single Indictment,
although the evidence adduced was
abundant and convincing.
with stockholders extending all the
way from police commissioner to assem-
blyman and county judge, what cannot
this hateful corporation do? 1t can
DEFY public opinion, control the police.
dictate to the sheriff. corrupt the grand
jury, make farce OF elections and n
mockery of justice, terrorize business
mon. many OF whom dare not squeak
for fear Of losing their patronage, and
gag the taxpayer, who maintains sui
len silence because he knows that any
opposition on his part or even the ven
tilation OF his sentiments would imme-
( diately increase his taxes.
.Oh, it is terrible grip these politi-
Z cal blacklegs have upon the throat OF
this community. They are doing their
best to choke the moral lie out OF it.
The better element in this city has
been blue. in the face for years, and is
apparently growing weaker every year.
(. But we, must remember THAT the tide
!; Goes not always run one way. Tho ebb
tide has. about reached its limit, and
soon q flood tide OF decency and com
mon sense will set in. The day has al
ready passed when the ballot-box can
be converted into beer key into which
? any number Of fraudulent votes may he
dumped according to tho will OF the
local boss. There is an accumulated
force OF public indignation in this city
(which, although as peaceful as the
water above the mill dam, has power
enough when once in motion to beget n
Johnstown flood. Iprophesy that tho
freshet will soon break forth, and when
Sit comes it will swamp these peanut
politicians and bury them so deep that
their remains will never be found.
) Again the Lawiand Order League will
train its guns upon Gnttcnburg, having
secured better ordnance and ammuni-
: ton. Let every one come up to the
help Of the Lord against tho mighty,
and may victory porch upon our ban
ners. y.
Pastor scudder is on Of the leading