New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-17
VOTERS KNEW THEIR DUTY.
THEY KILLED RACETRACK GAMBLING
WITH THEIR EYES WIDE OPEN.
IMPORTATION WAS SPREAD BROADCAST OVER
THE STATE BEFORE ELECTION DAY-soME

REFLECTIONS ON THE RESULT.
When the returns received on Election Night
and showed plainly that the voters OF this STATE hau
decided emphatically tina. the bettlng-rlngs must
so, many intelligent persons said that the voters
did not know what they were doing. Such state
ments heard in every place where racing men
could be found. There much bitter feeling en-
gendered at the time. 1t is said large sum OF
money used to defeat the revised Constitution.
A literary bureau was formed TO educate the voters
of the rural districts as to the dire effects whch
the adoption OF the revised Constitution would
have the breeding interests in this State In
formation about the clauses that related TO race
track betting was scattered broadcast all over the
State. Some of the documents OF education ex-
planned to the farmers how much they would lose
IL the per the gross receipts from the rae
ing clubs were taken from them, as II surely would
be II the revised Constitution were adopted NO
left unturned TO secure the defeat OF the
measure. on the other hand. The Tribune placed
the matter before the voters Of the State in COM
prehensive manner by giving plain. unvarnished
statement OF the facts. and putting the evils OF the
egazed racetrack gambling before them in their
true light. Every feature OF the evils OF racetrack
gambling explained to the voters, and the sweep
ing effects of the measure set forth. Through
out the State the question received careful con-
sheraton.
Another Of Information from which edu-
cational literature emanated gave the voters
throughout the State a chance TO read and ponder
over racetrack betting and the avarcious propens-
ties of the moguls who thrved upon the weaknesses
OF their fellow-men From this source the voters
informed OF the enormous profits OF the race
tracks They informed of every detail OF the
efforts made by the men In charge Of the betting
rings at the racetracks to Increase the revenues
derived from racetrack gambling. A lucid narra-
tive was given OF the temptations that beset clerks
statesmen. bookkeepers and young men in every call
he Wpr told hat
the racetracks permitted TO escape the agents
Of the betting rings. The messengers who catered
to the wants OF the women bettors In the grand
stand. who were so infatuated with the betting
craze that many of them visited the racetracks In
rain. snow or hail were wildly portrayed The
bettingroOm for women at one Of the raceracks
received special comment in a document expressly
its apurtenances. and the motley crowd OF it's pa
irons. was as well known to the voters In the in
terror OF the State TO the average citizen In this
city and Brooklyn.
Then there were the comments OF the press Of this
city on the so-ca.ed irst-class racing In this neigh
borhood The supendous blunders OF the racing OH
cias. the numerous dead heats. and disqualified
tons the insolence OF certain high salaried jockeys
who were petted and favored when severe punish
ment should have been meted out TO them combined
win the VIGOROUSLY msmanaged meeting at Jerome
Park caused the intelligent voters Of the State TO
permeatei the entire fabric OF racing the voters
throughout the State viewed racing as corrupt and
manifested early in the campaign. its articles
We're reprinted by the press in the interior Of the
state, ana were the subjects or editorials by men
who have not acquired the habit Of writing letters
Now in the face OF the official returns r. there
the assertion that the voters OF the great state
OF Network did not know what they were dong
when they voted TO suppress the betting rings AMI
incidental attachments? The voters OF the state
have vigorously answered the gambling element On
the turf total OF 75lll2 votes were cast for tn"
revised Constitution. o. which n06s7 votes were Cor
and 22,+g against the measure. There were 1904
blank and defective votes. Hence the majority FOR
The revised Constitution was $50 Tn. foregoing
ngures speak In no uncertain manner They forci-
bly, and cmphatcally demonstrate that the voters
o. the State clothed In their right minds and
knew just what they were voting FOR ana we're
anxious 20 suppress the betting rings and the men
who sacrificed the greatest OF all outdoor sports
to the gambling element for the revenues paid by
them
As tho betting rings are eNcctually suppressed II
does not mean that the sport OF racing should die.
II simply means that racing shall not he different
from any other calling FOR the persons who liV. by
IT, II means that racetracks have no more right
goods houses have 10 set apart rooms Tor the pur-
pose o. running faro banks or roulette heels.
There Is mite doubt expressed by lnt"insent per
sons In regard TO stakes ana purses ~ ~ con,
coded by the bcst-ln formed men who are Interested
In breeding and racing horses and by leading men
In every walk OF HE. that purse ana stak" races
are in no danger but that the fate OF the betting
rings is efectually sealed
Some men picture sad results FOR the fuCITc %
this city. Their" viii be another plague "f TOOL
rooms. and gambling viii be more prevalent thnn
They forget that the days OF barter and sale IN
the Police Department are over. and that IN the
that police captains VIII not be conieiIrl I" pay
from $1,000 10 81 90 for their appointments CON
sequently. they viii not be compelled to collect
tribute to pay notes given TO political leaders. The
provisions OF the revised Constitution such
that bedrooms forever doomed unless The
CITY IS once more turned over 10 a political boss
Tho voters know what they are about. and TO
quote an ex-poi,ical chief "aill not submit 10 be-
ing hoodwinked by any man or party OF men."