Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-11-02
PUBLIC BETTING.
JOSEPH BATTELL,
MiddleburY, VT.


word lottery, and inserting the following
'Or the sale of lottery tickets, pool selling,
hereafter be authorized or allowed within
this State and the leglalature shall pass APP
proprate laws TO prevent offenses against
any of the provisions OF this section
We would like our readers to answer
the following questions relatively to the
foregoing:
First-What would be the effect, if
such an amendment of the constitution
were adopted by the people, so far as 1t
concerns the breeding and development
of horses?
Second-Would this amendment put
an end to race meetings, and thus impair
the market value of horses bred for the
purpose of "imprOving the breed OF
horses?
Third-Do not running aud trottiEg
races possess sufficient merit in them
selves to be conducted proitably as
public spectacles without the adjunct
of betting?
Fourth-Do you think that If the lock-
ey clubs and trotting associations were
enterprising enough to offer large purses,
and thereby secure the best attractions,
the gate receipts would make up for the
loss of the betting privileges?
Fifth-Are the people of this State
sufficiently fond of contests between
horses to patronize them steadily if they
are deprived of every means of specuia-
ting upon the result?
SiXth-If public sports like football
and baseball can be profitably conducted
without professional betting, could not
horse racing be made equally attractive
for its own sake?
The above questions were submitted
to its readers by the "Rder and Driver
of New York in its issue of Oct. 6, from
which it is quite evident that the paper
was inclined to oppose the most demon
alizing business of pool selling, or any
other public system of betting. We
are sorry to see from later issue that
it retires from the field of opposition,
largely under the plea, which is unques-
tionable incorrect, that this amend
ment would prevent any association
from giving purse.
Luckily this question is not live
Issue in Vermont. Vermont laws are
already strong enough to prevent pool
selling at our fairs, and the public SEN
timent of the State is ready to back
these laws. We have ourselves never
seen any open violation of them, though
we have understood that it has been
attempted several times. OF course 1t
would be attempted only by the most
reckless class, and certainly any such
attempts will not be permitted many
times. As soon as public opinion is
aroused in the matter it will see to it in
no thnron0h hat
nuisance is abated, and the peIpetra-
tors of it, if persistlng, will soon find
themselves, as the sellers of liquor do
find themselves, suffering the penalty of
the law.
SO far as the questions asked are con-
cerned, it has been cOnclusively proved
here in Vermont that there is not the
slightest necessity for pool selling or
any system of public betting in order to
have horse races. The purses offered
and the interest that naturally exists in
such contest are abundant induce
ments to enlist both the horses and
spectators. Indeed, the attendance is
not only far more select and agreeable,
but much larger without pool selling
than with 1t. Without it, such an en-
tertainment is a wholly respectable
matter that everybody can attend with
satisfaction With it, it soon becomes
so disreputable that the best classes of
people will not attend. This whole
claim of the necessity Of pool selling, or
similer practices, to develop the breed
ing of horses is fraud. 1t is mere
excuse of gamblers to ply their avoca-
ton. But, II it were true, it would be
no excuse whatever for doing anything
that so demoralzes a community and
becomes such an unmitgated nuisance
TO all decent folks. The righteousness
that eXalteth a nation is better than the
decentralization that casts it down and
destroys it.
| remember when attending the fall
trotting meeting of the State Horse
Breeders association at Lexington, Nv,
meeting with one of the Mr.. Powells of
the great breeding firm of Powell &
Bros. of Pennsylvania. In speaking of
the pool selling and betting that were
so prevalent on the grounds, Mr.. Powell
said that he wished to bring a young
grandson with him, but did not on ac-
count of this matter, as he was afraid to
bring a youth in contact with so demon
alizing condition. The absence of
ladies and families at this fair, and the
generally small attendance as compared
with that of our Vermont fair, was very
noticeable. Indeed, it cannot be too
strongly stated, as there have been so
many lies told about this by those who
wish to waste their lives and substance
in gambling, that instead of assisting to
the entertainment of horse shows, or at
tracing more attendance, every species
of betting that takes place detracts from
the pleasure of the entertainment and