The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1892-01-01
year. or both. at the discretion of The

Court.
1t is a serious fact tina with such posi-
tive prohibitions of this sport and its at
tendant practices of betting and gambling,
horse racing is more prevalent Of late years
in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey than
PERHAPS ever before. Men who profess to
be law abiding and reputable citizens in
other respects appear to be unscrupulous
in breaking these laws operly and de-
family.
No excuse can be found for such con
duct in the plea that the indulgence in
these practices has become more innocent
or less injurious to the welfare OF the com
munity than formerly. On the contrary
the evidence must be clear to all Who VIII
observe it, that the modern race course
combines within its precincts a fearful list
of the lowest vices that corrupt society.
To the betting, always attendant on racing.
has been added what is known as pool
selling; a device by which men make a
business of setting up a sort of lottery ad-
| Joining the race course, and e~nticing others
to deposit small sums of money with them,
for which the buyer receives a ticket, en-
| fitting him to a premium in case the horse
which he selects " ms the race. AS these
| pool sellers pay a large rental to the pro-
prietor of the track for the privilege o.
| selling tickets, they manage the business
in such a way, that of the receipts from
| sales only a small amount is paid in prizes
| to holders of the tickets, leaving a large
profit for themselves.
The allurement thus held out to the
minds Of a large class to grasp money
without labor, has often proved a power
full incentive to theft in order to obtain the
! means of purchasing these pool tickets. 1t
may be further remarked that as this is
| but a modification of the methods used in
| the lottery system, it brings with it the
| evil results inseparably connected there
| with, and which have been so justly con-
| demned by the legal enactments of rearly
| every Srate in the Union.
Vendors of intoxicating drinks ply their
nefa1ious trade within the p~urlieus OF the
racing ground, melting the worst passions
of the crowd, leading at times to brawls
and ever murders. Profanity is rife in
such an atmosphere, and idleness is foster
ed in men who should be engaged in hon
est employment for the support of their
families. Thus the existence of the race
ground in any locality becomes not only a
great evil to its frequeDters, but imposes
| upon those of :ie surrounding community
who never visit it, the increased burdens
involved in arresting and trying the crimi-
nails it attracts, and in supporting the fam
lilies which it impoverishes.
We believe the laxity of public sentiment,
now conspicuous respecting this great evil
is increased by the tone of a part of the
newspaper press in dealing with it. The
sporting columns in these journals, detail
ing the daily races, and advertising them
as if they were a legitimate business enter
prise, gives them popularity and throws q
veil of responsibility over their surround
ings which must be misleading to the
young and those who are ignorant Of the
laws against them. One of these laws, as
may be noticed, makes the s'abettors
GUeTeoI, anu dll anu ctClJ pCioOh CCuCCi nCo
therein, either directly or indirectly, "
gui1tg Of a misdemeanor. and punishable
by fine and imprisonment. Further, any
person who shall print or set up any adver-
tisement mentioning the time or place OF
such races, is liable to a fine of twenty
dollars. How then, can the proprietor of
a public journal justify such advertise
ments, or escape the responsibility, both
legal and moral, of aiding and abetting in
the nefarious practice?
The great pecuniary gains flowing into
the Golfers Of the proprietors and principals
in this business have enabled them to
silence the objections of others, whom they
employ or patronize by the liberal prices
they can afford to pay for services for
goods. The plausible plea is put forth,
that the races make business and stimulate
trade, in the face of the fact that such bus
mess gives no profitable return for the
money it inyeigles from its votaries, or ex-
torts from it's victims. and thus impOver-
ishes the many whilst it enriches the few.
1t is an evil Of vital and far reaching |
| consequence to encourage a disregard or
breach of those statutes, which have been
instituted as safeguards to the public sir-
tue by the worthy and God-fearing men
who have preceded us; for the reason that
| these enactments curtail indulgence in pop |
ular, DuC uemOIallZing ulsersionS OF dppe-
tites. Submission to law is the indispen-
sible condition upon which We enjoy the
multiplied blessings of civil society. Self
restraint in those propensities of the indi-
| vidual, which antagonize the general well
fare, lies at the foundation of all good
government; while absolute personal lib
erty is but another name for anarchy.
The growth of a disposition to contemn
the laws is therefore to be regarded as a
very dangerous symptom in any commu-
nifty; aud they who promote such disregard
are justly to be censured as among the
worst enemies of the state. For if the Do
servance of a wholesome law may be set
aside in one case, why may it not with
equal right be similarly treated in another?
The responsibility for the enforcement
of law must rest primarily upon the police,
the constabulary, the justices of the peace.
the prosecutors of the pleas, and the grand
and petit juries under the supervision of
the Judges of the criminal courts. If they
or any of them lack vigilance, or sympa-
thize with the criminal, justice is defeated, |
vice triumphs, and the community suffers.
The emphatic language Of Judge Garrison,
in his late charge to the grand jury of
Camden county, New Jersey, on The SUBJ
.uxA ~ xha 80 % GJn,nacto, 40