The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-14
IS AFTER THE LOTTERIES,
The Civic Federation Prepar-
ing an Ordinance That
Will Hold.
ATTORNEY REED ON THE LAW.
How to Put Stop to Advertising
That Incites People to Cheat
Themselves.

When the Civic Federation gets on the
track of anything that really needs atten-
ton something generally comes of 1t.
Last week the iniquities OF the lottery
frauds were pointed out to the federation
and move was at once made in the right
direction to put a stop TO the indlscrlm-
mate advertising INDUCED in by these
queer gambling institutions.
The attorney of the federation, Charles
Wesley Reed, said of the proposed action
while talking to CALL representative yes
terday:
There is but one way to handle the is
sue properly, and that is to get at the law
which, peculiarly enough, permits 1t, and
make a change so that it Will be unlawful.
As the law reads now it is not misde-
meanor to advertise the winning numbers
of lottery, because it is held to be impos-
sible to assist anything that has passed.
II newspapers discuss or write OF drawings
TO occur in the future, then they are aiding
and assisting the lottery, because they are
warming the people up to future event.
The law in that case is clear, and the
offending party is guilty OF misdemeanor.
The lottery company, acting upon recent
decisions regarding past drawings, is
aware that such reference is unlawful, and
all lottery literature refers to past drawings,
the past magnifcence and grandeur Incl
dent to winning capital and approxima-
ton prizes.
such conduct is especially tantalizing,
as there is no law TO prevent it, though as
q matter of fact printed matter reviewing
last months winnings is just as service
able from an advertising standpoint as a
long dissertation on what might occur
next mouth. What we want to do is to
have an ordinance passed making it mis-
demeanor for newspapers in the City and
County OF San Francisco to advertise lot
teries and their workings at any time,
either past, present or future. In this way
we VIII be enabled to prevent the printing
OF a great deal of matter that now incites
many people to play at the losing game
who would not do so if the craze was not
always before them in the shape of misrep-
resenting newspaper advertisements.
Il will have the ordinance drafted to-
morrow, and will have it introduced at a
meeting of the Board OF Supervisors as
soon as possible after that. am anxious
that the anti-lottery element of this City
and it is greatly in the maiority-thor-
oughly understands the motive of the
federation and the necessity of taxing i'm
mediate action to put a stop to the lot
teries of this City. l have no doubt that
the Board of Supervisors will see the ad-
vantage OF such law and attend to it that
it passes all right. The necessity of it is
clear, and it is the only way to stop the
indiscriminate and widespread adver-
Using"
Mr.. Reed Is doubtless correct in regard
to the necessity of making it misde-
meanor to assist and aid lottery at any
time, and it should be put in such strong
terms that there viii be no chance for the
lotteries to continue advertising on techni-
cal issues. The companies doing business
in this City are frauds and it is the duty of
the Board of Supervisors to put stop to
them as soon as possible.
Thousands of dollars go into the Golfers
of these companies monthly that never
get back to the people, either in prizes or
otherwise, and the fasco of winning on a
lottery ticket is about played out. The
federation now has an opportunity TO do
some work that will peroetuate the organ
ization and its future will be assured be-
cause OF its sincerity of purpose.