The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-05
AN APPEAL TO OLERGYMEN.


Many of the leading ministers of San
Francisco recently exhibited praise
worthy zeal in attempts 10 purify the City
of its more fragrant evils. In these efforts
they co-operated with the Civic Fedora
ton; body of patriotic men who earnestly
desire a clean City and an honest munich
pal government. The reform movement
was begun by the disclosures of rotten
ness in New York made by the Lexow
Committee. It's influence was strongly
felt in our last municipal election, when a
majority of the voters thought that they
were electing honest men to Office. In
that election the clergymen of this City
arrayed themselves on the side of purity
and reform.
All this was eminently commendable,
and shows that our ministers have
proper civic pride as well as high moral
sense. Indeed, the responsibility resting
upon them is so grave that their sli ghtest
shortcoming in its discharge must be not
only productive of great harm, but is sure
to draw down uncharitable criticism upon
them.
Knowing them to be men of so high
character, and aware that their courage
has been tested, we respectfully ask them
if they have knowledge of the great harm
which lottery companies are working in
this City? Do they know that lottery
tickets by the thousands are sold in this
City every month; that where these lot
teries are not shameless swindles their
expenses of running, of advertising and of
keeping ON friendly terms with the officers
!, 10,
nifcant proportion of what they receive
from the sale of tickets can be given out in
prizes; that both the laws of the United
States and of California, as we'll as of San
Francisco; make lotteries and all dealings
in connection with them criminal; that a
large majority of the persons who buy
tickets are those who can least afford to be
thus robbed of their money that lotteries
demoralize the people by eultivating a
gambling spirit in them, and lead them to
hope for money secured dishonesty rather
than work for it?
Have the ministers ever thought to in
quire why lottery companies are permitted
to do business in this City openly and
without any fear of molestation? And if
the only possible explanation is the brib-
cry of the officers charged with the en-
forcement OF the laws, have we not very
serious matter to deal with?
So far as the CALL is aware, it is the only
daily paper in this City that refuses to
publish lottery advertisements. The law
does not prohibit the publication of the
list of winning numbers in lottery draw
ings, and this is a great misfortune, for
that is really the only advertisement that
the lottery companies care to publish. If
we regarded the list as legitimate news, we
certainly should publish it, for the COM
panies would not only be very glad to fur
nish it, but would pay handsomely for its
publication, as it pays the other dailies OF
this City which do publish it. But we
have refused to do so on any terms, for
the reason that it is aiding and abetting
one of the meanest forms of swindling.
While we do not profess to have sounder
morals than the clergymen of San Fran
cisco, we are certainly arraying the CALL
against a powerful swindle, and that at
considerable financial cost, and the minis
tiers have not yet made crusade against
the evil. But We have a confidence in
them sufficient to make US believe that
now, since the matter has been called to
their attention, they will at once begin
earnest and united work against this in
sidious enemy OF morality and thrift. We
therefore ask that they open a crusade by
preaching sermons against the evil, and
that they follow it up with determined
action.
In like spirit we appeal to our contem-
poraries in all friendliness, not only to
cease advertising the lotteries, but to add
their tremendous moral weight to the
forces that should be arrayed to suppress
this outlawed and criminal evil.
Similarly, we appeal to all good citizens
to take the side of right and assist in en-
forcing the laws and in protecting the
people. It is shame to be spending
money so recklessly. IF every one who
buys lottery tickets should invest the
money in shares of the San Joaquin Valley
Railroad, he would be securing property
that would be sure to bring him hand
some profit on the investment. To the
Examiner particularly, which is receiving
subscriptions to these shares, we suggest
that great good might be done by its adj
vocacy of this course.