The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-04

CROSBY of Boston, who is underst ood 10
be the principal OF the T" Narragansett
Racing Association" has something to
say which The News is very glad to
give space to, as it is To any words that
are decently spoken whether they agree
with the sentiments of THE News or
not 1t is the policy of this newspaper
to open its columns freely at all times.
| THE News presents TO Mr.. CROSBY
Its assurances Of personal considera-
tion. 1t has no quarrel with him ex-
cept that it is, THE News understands,
his enterprise which is to be held
Immediately responsible for the morti-
flying situation which is now encount-
cred. As it is, THE News would drive
Mr.. CROSBY out of the State if il had
the power
Mr.. CROSBY states that the races are
being run son their merits irrespective
OF who bets money or who does not"
and The News has no quarrel with Mr..
CROSBY on this point. THE News has
no reason TO believe that the racing at
Narragansett Park is being conducted
otherwise than fairly and squarely. If
they are being run under Mr.. CRosBY's
direction, as they evidently are, THE
NEWS is very ready to believe
that there will be no cheating
or fraud practiced in winning the
races-for Mr.. CROSBY is a successful
gambler, and THE NEWS is quite ready
TO sustain the position that a man can
not be permanent success in the pro-
scribed vocation of gambling unless his
methods are fair and above suspicion.
any more than he can be in any other
profession or business. THE News does
not believe that the racing is being run
by blacklegs, only gamblers. THE News
Is not prudish and recognizes the differ
ence, the fact that gamblers may be
honest with their customers and, in fact,
must be If they are to be long successful
at their business.
THE racing is probably all right. The
men who bet are in all probability pro-
tected from every feature Of chance. |
but those they are publicly informed |
about. The meeting is not only part
of Mr.. CRosBY's business, but a higher
authority supervises it in the interests
of the fair and square-an authority
that Is presumed to have an interest
only in the race feature and none in the
gambling enterprise.
The News cares nothing about this.
however, except that the gambling in
Rhode Island should not descend
he step to blacklegging. THE
NEWS is opposed to the enter
'rise because it is gambling-gambling
IN a big scale, scale of extraordinary
'ublic notoriety, scale that makes a
dot on Rhode Island big enough for the
whole country to see 1t is an enterprise
# greater public harm, and greater
'ublic consequence than all the faro
'anks and roulette games and policy
hops that ever existed in the city of
One NEWS reader asks, with seeming
arcasm, If THE News proposes to con-
Inue to assault the carnival of gam
ling as il did yesterday, for the 45 days
hat the fall meeting is announced to
IN. The News begs to reply that it
roposes to do nothing of the sort in {
lis same way 1t has told its story. I
here is nothing more to tell in the way
facts, no new information to be given.
ut The News does not propose to let S
10 matter drop. 1t is very live sub. |
ct for persistent discussion. q
And public sentiment, too, will take
re that the matter isn't allowed to &
op. fl