The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-02

N iS in Dependent III us VtetVS ou ~
local questions.
The Policy Abomination-A Word
to Christopher Z. Smith and
Others.
1t is strange to see the ministers of
this town making themselves the
tools of the New York Board OF
Control in the Gutenberg contest.
while a real gambling evil is at their
very doors, eating into the hearts OF
their own congregations with its cor
rupt and loathsome appeals to women
and children, and ignorant and simple
minded persons.
We allude to the policy a~bomination,
which it is generally understood has
THREE HUNDRED gambling dens
open in this city. In these hives OF
iniquity, the gambling is nearly all
done by the humber and weaker
classes. A large number of the pa
irons are colored mel and women, EN-
ployes of the railroads; hundreds of
Door orkingmen and clerks squander
their wages in them, too. Women
living in tenement houses frequently
risk their husbands hard-earned
wages, the price of tn cir children's
food, to patronize these. ~pest-holes,
and drink of their unhealthy excite
ment.
1t is a shocking fact that two-thirds
of all the plays" made are made by
children under sixteen years. Many
of these save up their pennies to play
on their own account. Dozens OF APP
prentices play two or three times a
week. Hundreds of boys and even
some little girls are sent to the policy
dens as the agents of their parents or
other elders, who are ashamed to go
themselves.
Imagine, Mr.. Scudder, young chill
dren going to these haunts of profan-
ity, debauchery and recklessness, ex-
posed daily or from day to day to the
hideous influences of such places.
And you, sir, are fitting against wind
mills at Gutenberg while two policy
shops, at least, are in full blast
within a block of your Tabernacle,
and people sit under you in the pews
whose wealth is derived from ''back-
ing' the infamous game. These are
facts, Mr.. Scudder. How do you like
them2 Why do you not lift your
voice in one of your eloquent preludes
to your excellent sermons, and de-
nounce this evil?
But there is one mar in Jersey City
who holds the policy dealers in the
hollow of his hand:-
CHRISTOPHER P. SMITH.
The Superintendent of Police.
He San close these places up as
tight as "a drum.
He can do what Mayor Stanton of
Hoboken has done.
He can drive the dealers into Jail or
New York.
And it is futile for Mr.. Smith to
pretend that he does not know where
to find the evil. He can if he wants
to-. Every officer on the force from
Chief Murphy or Captain Farrier-
especially Captain Farrier-down to
the youngest Chanceman can tell him
where the dens are located.
Even if they could not, THE JERSEY
CITY NEWS has located a dozen of
the worst for him. He has been told
where they were situated and who
operated them. He has been told of
the disgraceful scenes that take place
in them.
Smith used to have the reputation
OF being a courageous policeman and
of tolerating no gambling dens in his
Jurisdiction. What has come over
him since he has become Superintend-
emit?
Come, Mr.. Scudder; wake upl Ii
you are in earnest in your tight
against gambling, help as bring Mr.
Superintendent Smith to time to
crush this policy villainy.