New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-24
RACETRACKS DENOUNCED.
AN ELOQUENT AND SINGING ADDRESS
ON THE GAMBLING EVIL


Forum OF Reforms" under the direction OF the
Rev Wilbur F Crafts Yesterday morning the sub
ject was THE Gambling Evil" Mr. Crafts opened
the discussion dwelling chiefly lottery gambling
and deplorng the failure Of the bill in the present
Congress designed to prevent the further encroach
ments OF the Louisiana Lottery. which has now es-
tabshed agency in Florida
Mr.. Crafts followed by l.. A. Maynard. who
spoke or Turf Gambling" He contended that
racetrack gambling. including poolseng. was the
most dangerous most formidable and widespread
form OF this evil. and gave an array Of facts and
statistics in support of his statements He quoted
literally from the columns Of The Tribune and other
papers engaged in the fight against Monmouth Park
year ago show the character OF racetrack
managers and racetrack freQuenters and the petty
swndling schemes of various sorts connected with
the business. He argued that what was said of
Monmouth. in other respects. might be said or
racetracks generally.
Il have been reading during the last week." said
Mr. Maynard. "a book by that devoted man Of
God. the Rev F. b. Meyer. having the title. The
Bells OF Is The closing chapter is relation OF an
attempt made by Mr.. Meyer to close a racecourss
in the OF Leicester, England. The preacher
evangelist gives a graphic description Of his rescue
from the hands Of mob OF racetrack hangers-on.
who would have torn him In pieces for daring to
lift his voice In protest against their evil business.
Mr. Meyer says Wherever races are held. they
are an unmitigated nuisance and source OF temp;a-
ton For a month after this annual carnival We had
deal with its wreckage In the miserable men and
women that issued from the jail. and were glad
enough for help Boys who had plundered the
"till' for money TO make their bets or pay their
losses: disreputabe women locked UP for being
drunk and disorderly: a avis Of bookmaker,
and many OF the class. 1t is impossible to
disassociate the turf from betting and the words OF
Kingsley are not a whit too strong when he says:
"Of all habits. gambling IL the most intrinsicaHy
savage; morally it is unchvalrous and unChristan:
the devil is the only father OF it," Let the Church
Of Christ lead the crusade against this gigantic
evby discoura gng all appeals TO chance. by GUST
every form OF gambling from bazaars. and by re-
fuslng 10 court the patronage OF any, however
highly born and uustrous. who use their influence
to foster n system which. in the words Of the late
Lord BeacOnsled, "a vast engine OF national de-
moralzation -
APPLICABLE TO THE AMERICAN TURF
This Characterization is quite applicable 20
the turf in America to Its English prototype. II
is not necessary TO enter into any argument as TO
the moral character of horse-racing considered by
Itself and purely means OF diversion. Ii would
be quite idle to contend that horse-racIng IL a
sin per SO as IL would be 10 make the same charge
against theatre-gong or card-playing II Is the as
soclations the practices. the habits which seem TO
be lnseparable with these things into which they
appear inevitably to lead. and not the things them
selves that make them so reprehensibe from m oral
point OF view. II Is conceivable that racecourse
might be managed IN sucn a way tnat decent anu
respectable people could find a measure OF rational
enjoyment in II and not be ashamed 10 have X
known that they frequented such place. The
racing such course would be limited 10 genuine
trials OF speed horses selected for the pur
pose the spor, would not be carried on In Indictment
weather under any niitlons entailing suffering
upon the animals engaged In IT, and. least Of all. II
would have gambling and other knavish arts
among its chief and foremost features. II Is pos
sibe that In remote agricultural communities
horse-racing Ike this may still be INDUCED In but
II so. have never heard OF 1t. AS a matter OF
country fair that did not have far more eVii than
OF good in 1t for all concerned. The sport always
and brutal!ze all who are con-
nectei with II. II 1t does nothing worse. As rule.
drunkenness profanity and Righteousness are Its
Next the banded liquor interests stands the
and public morals. as breeder OF vice and crime.
Like the liquor Interests the turf commands the
millions and nothing that money can buy is per
e 'Ga ou sn OF the n" cSanry With
tons are It's most o6edent and willing seTyan's
attract victims into The net OF the turf gamblers is
enormous facilities to the work OF spreading the
gamblers. bait into the remotest corners OF the
Washington Park and other similar resorts are
flashed over the country FOR the use Of newspapers
and p)olroom Keepers In catering to the ganoiihs
prOpensit!es Oi the peOpe.
Il do not speak at random OF these things, but
study and careful observation SO much have | |
learned Of the fearful sum Of nquities and abomna;
tons resulting from racerack gambling that feel
my powers Of language wholly inadequate 10 ex-
am Clearly within the bounds Of truth and modera-
ton when say that nowhere outside OF our prisons
cations OF dangerous vicious and utterly conscience
less and women make up the vast majority |
OF the crowds gathered within racetrack in
Closures on racing days The brothe;s. the dives.
the saloons. and all other evil resorts OF the towns
The thief the swindler. the har;ot the roue.al,
creatures who prey upon the communicated find
phere The ingenuity OF the EVIL one himself could
no, devise pace nor business better calculated
prosecution OF criminal and devices than the
Herr much n npE' S are co H4so
law. and always with certain amount Of respect
" The e"i racetrack business from beginning to end
is tissue of fraud and treachery IL Is only by the
any track a regular conspiracy exists between
the owners OF horses. the Jockeys and the book
auent the tracks in the hope OF winning some thing
by placing their money on horses are heeced and
then. il Is only that the blind nfatuation may be
kept up and new victims brought in That fraud
se rnsh Almost daily in our sporting journals
ana and in the racing columns OF secular papers
Early in the racing season last year the turi writ,
were we o' ruled OF the track at Monmouth because
they dared to lnsInuate that the managemeent was
mouth Park Association for running Its business
in the interest of professional gamblers As II II
had ever done anything else! Significant. In this
world Of July r. warning It's readers against
piaylng the races declaring that the races were
al fixed beforehand and that no one except pro-
'essional gamblers had any chance in such places
II was openly charged In the papers and never |
leniei that the great Brooklyn Handicap In May. |
s93. was fraudulent. the gamers being the book
makers and the management And the same charge
yas made concerning subsequent great racing
went in Chicago The mystery Is that any one
,ould be foolish and gulible enough TO believe
hat the men who manage these events could ever
De honorable. They do not make their money that
way"
CONTEST OF THE FIN-KEELS AT NEWPORT !
Newport r. l.. Aug. % (SpeciaD-The second
laws racing for a subscription purse OF 800 TO
he winner sailed by the little twenty-one-
DOT racers In the harbor to-day. The amateur :