The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-14
THE LOTTERY EVIL.

L v
No portion of the report OF the Grand
Jury more fully deserves the attention OF
all who are earnestly interested in the
maintenance of law and the welfare OF
the community than that which relates to
lotteries. The report aptly characterizes
the publication of notices of lotteries in
the newspapers as "crying shame" 1t
is indeed one Of the worst offenses of which
American journalism is guilty, for the
publication of such notices lends to these
unlawful and pernicious schemes the aid
Of the very power which should be most
strenuously exerted to suppress them.
The evil of lotteries is far worse than
that of the gambling-dens which, hidden
away in back rooms or in the Sums of the
City, afford few enticements to the general
mass of the people. The lottery does not
hide itself. On the contrary, it is insolent,
detant, aggressive. It is powerful enough
to. bend even great newspapers to its
service, and to hire host of men to peddle
its tickets in every section OF the Union.
AS the newspaper advertisements go every
where, SO do the pedolers. Some OF them
make house to house canvass and solicit
buyers of their worthless tickets on the
very threshold of the home. An evil SO
ubiquitous and so persistent as this has a
hundred victims where the granddaughter
has one. 1t is itself an inducement to
gambling, and not infrequentIy leads its
yotaries to go about hunting for place in
which they may indulge the criminal
mania of trying to get something for moth
ing, and to enrich themselves without
work.
1t is known that the United States Gov
eminent prohibits the carrying of lottery
matter through the mails. 1t is known
that Wells, Fargo & Co. are cooperating
with the Postoffice Department in the
efforts to suppress the traffic. How is it,
then, that the tickets, the circulars and the
list of drawings of the lottery companies
arrive here so promptly and so regularly ?
This is a question which the police and
other officials having authority in such
matters should seek to find out. In another
column we publish interviews on this sub
ject with the Chief of Police, the District
Attorney and the chairman of the late
Grand Jury, which should be read in this
connection. They bear testimony both to
the extent of the evil and to the difficulty
of suppressing it, and are sufficient in
themselves to show the importance of an
awakened public conscience to deal with
the widespread iniquity.
The Grand Jury says: "If the banks
and collection exchanges would join with
the Governm ent in this matter the results
would be good" 1t also recommends
that 'the Legislature make the sale of lot
terry tickets and advertising and aiding
the lottery business a felony, instead of a
misdemeanor, and the verdict of the ma
jority of a trial jury sufficient for con-
viction." Both the suggestion and the
recommendation are good, but the true
point and pith of the report Oh the subject
is embodied in the sentence: meanwhile
the faithful administration of the law, the
frequency of prosecution and the severity
of punishment by imprisonment, as well
az fines, in every case of conviction under
the present statutes, would have healthier
effect in restricting the spread, if not en-
tirely suppressing this great evil"
1t is the faithful execution of the law
and the conviction of offenders under the
present statutes, that the better element
of the people demand and the CALL urges
al this time. We are aware of the diff
Va IHc Idohs Dub Will q pO-
lice, an earnest District Attorney, a reso-
lutte public opinion and general determine
ton on the part of the people, it can be
accomplished. AS for those of our con-
temporaries that continue to serve the
gigantic evil for a small hire, we can do
no more than recall to them these words
of the report:
''This jury desires to express to the peo-
pie of the City the commendable course of
such of the dailies as have now refused to
advertise the drawings OF the various lot
terry companies. 1t is to be hoped that
other proprietors will, in justice to them
selves and to the public. follow this good
example, which will go well in the line Of
progress this State is now making"