The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-01
RHODE ISLANDS DISGRACE.
Rev. II. G. Baker of Hope Street
Church on the Gambling Law.

AT the Hope Street M. Il. Church, Sun
day evening, the pastor, Rev. 4. q. Baker,
delivered the first in a new series OF Sun
day evening lectures on Timely Topics
Tersely Treated. His subject was Rhode
Islands Disgrace, or the Narragansett
Park Iniquity." Using for text the
words found In Joshua Z, 13, and Ezekiel
%, 13--" There is an accursed thing In
the midst of thee. Therefore have smit-
ten My hands at thy dishonest gain which
thou hast made, and at thy blood which
hath been In the midst of thee" He
spoke substantially as follows;
These words, expressing the wrath and
indignation Of Jehovah against the sin
and wickedness INDUCED in by his people
Israel, have a special appropriateness to
the condition OF things existing at the
present time In the State of Rhode Island
and Providence Plantations, State that
enjoys(?) the distinguished honor(O OF
being the only State in the Union that
today sanctions by law the nefarious busi-
ness of poo!-selling and gambling by the
incorporated agricultural societies OF the
State.
For this honor we are indebted to the
Legislature Of 1894 which passed the
spool Law" the practical working OF
was passed, had given to the little State
OF Rhode Island notoriety that might
well have caused the dust OF Roger Will
Jams TO rise from It's resting place to cry
out against the shame and the disgrace.
With the usual ambiguity of statutory
enactments this law is blindly entitled,
/" An Act to Restrain Gam bling and Pool
Selling" II is worthy OF careful study as
q specimen of political jugglery, showing
how the men, elected to make our laws,
can appear 10 be legislating in the inter-
ssts OF morality and good government,
while at the same time they are playing
into the hands Of the boss gamblers; leg
islating away the rights and liberties Of
the people, and giving to the gambling
and liquor fraternity full license to scatter
their devastating influences over the
State.
The speaker read Sections / and of
Chapter 1850 OF the Public Statutes, and
continued: For period of six months In
each year the law OF Section Is made in
operative by the law OF Section 2. Thus
the door is thrown open for every kind
and form OF gambling that can be devised
or practiced within the enclosure of an
incorporated agricultural society's
grounds. And thus the State OF
Rhode Island, through its legislative
body, extends to the horse gamblers
and thieves of the country cordial iuvi-
tation to come In and enjoy the immunity
from law denied them in their own State,
but provided for them here. And the in
vitation was as cordially accepted. This
he Iikened to the COW that having yielded
full pail of good rich milk, with one
kick OF its foot upset the pail and spilled
the contents.
Section of this remarkable product OF
legislative duplicity reads: ''Tnis act
shall take effect from and after its pas
sage" Verify, it did. Why, the ink was
hardly dry upon the statute book before
the gambling was under full headway at
Narragansett Park. Cause and effect fol-
lowed each other In quick succession.
The law was passed Friday, May %, and
on Saturday, June 0, when only
fifteen days old, 1t received its
baptism OF blood, IN the first
murder of the season within the park en-
closures. From this suspicious beginning
there followed that record of crime.
thievery and blackguardism with which
the secular press has made us familiar.
and which has made the name OF Rhode
Island reproach and by-word on the
tongues of men.
The State Fair proved rich bonanza. a
harvest OF ingathering to the thieves and
gamblers, ana supplied whatever was
lacking to fill up the measure OF Rhode
Islands disgrace.
In closing up their business for the
season, and seeking the seclusion OF their
winter quarters, the gamblers have made
bold to give notice that the 18th OF May,
1895, will find them on hand, ready for
their death dealing, soul-damning busi-
ness on Q larger scale, and with greater
attractions.
Fellow Citizens: There Is an accursed
thing in the midst OF thee The crimes.
the woe, the sorrow and the suffering,
which In elk short months have resulted
from II, cannot be described in language.
In the name Of God and humanity, in the
interest OF truth and righteousness, /
ask-What are you going to do about it?
'5hall we tolerate this evil, and perpet-
uate the disgrace which IL has brought
upon Us? Or. shall we, following the
example OF Louisiana, New York. New
Jersey, and other states OF the Union.
wipe out this offensive section from the
statute book, and put the name of Little
Rhody once more in the column of states
that stand firm and true for morality and
good government?
"weare on the eve OF the gathering OF the |
General Assembly. The first opportunity.
since the passage OF this Jaw, to work for |
:ts repeal, Is now before us. The ba.tls |
will not be won By simpiy asking for re-
peal Success will depend upon the en-
pbasis which we put upon our asking the
backing OF public sentiment represented
In our petition. The gambling lobbyist
will be on hand, and will have
the ear OF the corfuptible politi-
clan. The law as IL now stands
will not be without its friends and adyo-
eatss on the Legislature door, unlsss the