New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-11
KEEP Up THE FIGHT

face of an overwhelming public sentiment, anu
against demonstration that certainly o"sh'
70 have been significant of the political danger
of n stubborn adherence to their course, 'heJ
have not only refused to alter it. but nave
ononlv expressed their contempt for the moral
forces gathered at the capital IN support OF
the repeal bills. Such an exhioi"oh Vi II"
decency and audacity has rarely been "''hesSeu
in any Legislature 1t is not our purpose "
find fault with the Citizens League. l. ue'
serves nothing but encouragement anu he'P
Not. therefore, as censure, but as warning ~
seems right to say that the men VINO have uoho
tbis dishonor to New-Jersey ought not to nave
hcen in a postion to do it. Most OF them nave
had records at Trenton that left no doubt oi
their willingness to 60 into any Jobbing schen'e
no matter how fragrant. Gambling bills SIM
liar to those that are now law had appeareu
in the Legislature during each OF three pew
ons wears. and on one occasion had Gtuahy
nassed both houses. They were to be expect
Cd again. and it might have been fairly as
srmed that members of the Legislature who
had been guilty of the vlancs connected with
Tho co,l combination last year would be en-
tirely capable of serving the criminal interests
of Guttenburg and Gloucester Inc iactS co"'
corning the coal scandals were well known
throughout the State when the last election
was held They were particularly outrageous
and the success of the combination had arou,eu
public sentiment in apparently reharNao'c
wav. L. was widely declared that members
involved in the scandal would never be allowed
to resume their places. 1t seemed as II TINS
resolution we're generally entertained and with
| out distinction OF party.
But it did not amount to mnch IN the e'ec
| tons. Every such member who received re-
nomination was promptly reelected. ms OK
perience undoubtedly told heavily against the
work of the Citizens League this winter. Inc
gamblers in and out of the Legislature pointed
| plccfully to the fact that the popular threats
| AGAINST the "boodersr had come to nothing
and they were in position to clam WIN eA-
nerence to Justify them that these popular
movements possess no significance ana emu ON!
in smoke The Citizens League is now chai-
cnged by the gamblers TO fight to the death'
| IL it allows any member OF either House WHO
has supported the Thompson bills to be. re-
turned or any person to be elected VINO docS
not pledge himself in advance to their appear,
it will confess It's impOtency. Tho work oi
organizing the league in every county OF the
State should be prosecuted vigorously. NO
other issue than that of the repeal OF the gani-
Hing hills should be tolerated in the contest
of next fall. The league must bear In mlnd'
too that tho surrender to the gamblers was
distinctly a Democratic party measure adoptcd
! In nayment of a financial debt which the Dem
ocratic party organization incurred last 1dii In
accepting the money OF the gamblers 10 coll
duct its campaign with. IL is idle and impos-
silre to ignore this phase OF the matter. Inc
moral sentiment of New-Jersey is called upon
20 deal with the Democratic party as a party
and with individual Democrats. The gamblers
exnect TO hide behind partisanship, to make 1t
their tool their weapon of offence and defence,
and the only proceeding that can be successful
against them is one which will convince indi-
yidual Democrats that to save the honor Oh
their party, no less than OF their state they
must condemn the gambling legislation ana
every man who has furthered it.
1t is only by sustained, organized and sys-
tomato effort that Roadway can be made
against combination OF politicians and gam
HERS so powerful as that now dominant at
Trenton. Serious citizens must realize this
when they see that it suffices not merely to
hold both houses of their Legislature III re-
belion against public opinion, but to faint the
action of the Executive, also, and to close the
mouths of New Jerseys representatives in Con-
press and in the United States Senate. Mr..
Mcpherson has been asked to give his views
about this legislation, but he has nothing to
say. The newly elected Senator, MIR. Smith, is
equally reserved. Wherever there is power to
affect the action of the Legislature the gam
blcrs have asserted themselves. II their
strength is to be broken, it must be done by
the kind Of work that does not halt for lack
of interest and is not dismayed by difficulties.