Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-30

Office, hut simply to THE STAR, or to
the EdifOrfnI or Business Depart
ments, according to tenor or purpose.
A careful perusal of the statements con-
tanned elsewhere in todays Star concern
ing the race track and gambling evils in
Alexandria county. Va. cannot but con-
vince great majority of readers that
something IL radically wrong in the polit-
ical or personal organization Of that county.
For months these vile growths upon the
social organism have fiourished on the
south bank of the Potomac until there Is
no moral plague spot IN the world more
dangerous or more to be feared: 1t Is 10
Gated in Alexandria county for two reasons:
the District of Columbia will not tolerate
1t and Alexandria county will. What the
District has legislatcd from its borders by
persistent acts of Congress our neighbors
have apparently welcomed and harbored
and It's officials have winked at to the scan
dial OF the coed people of the county and
the disgust Of the rest of the state as well
as to the menace of the morals of the Dis
trict. Located as 1t Is In another jurisdic-
Non the community Of thieves, thugs and
gamblers Is out Of reach Of the District au-
thorities, who can only apprehend them
rands and then merely on suspicion. There
IL almost total lack Of reciprocal effort
on the part Of the Virginia state and county
authorities.
The childish pretence Is made that 1t is
impossible to obtain evidence against these
resorts. pretense that Is laughaDle In the
light Of the numerous complaints that are
made tosthe Washington police by the VIC
Tins Of the swindlers who are now thriving
at Jackson City and at Rosslyn. There is
no lack Of evidence on this side of the
river and there should be no difficulty on
the other side in securing evidence making
cases against every resort that now runs
in open defiance of the law at the south
end of Long Bridge. The judge of the
county Is thoroughly aware of the situa-
ton, but. in the absence of efficient ma
chinery he Is powerless. The gamblers
have Teen located in the plague spot SO
long that they have achieved a certain
amount of political influence in the county
which they use as a weapon with which to
defend themselves against possible assaults.
1t would seem from comparisons that the
colony of sharpers grows IN size and in
power for evil each week. Jackson City is
rapidly becoming national name 1t Is
getting to be known as the mecca Of evil
dners, and confidence men and sharpers of
every description are coming to 1t from all
parts Of the country knowing by the re-
ports sent out that Alexandria county in
effect welcomes them within its borders.
The recent upturning Of corruption in New
York city has undoubtedly driven many
from that metropolis. and they in common
with the outcasts Of other cities and with
the hangers-on at winter race tracks ex-
PEELED from New Jersey and other states
are coming south, glad of this golden op-
portunity to suck at the veins of SO large
and prosperous L community as Washing
ton.ton. The proximity to Washington
makes this city the principal victim, and
yet its police authorities are powerless.
Alexandria county also suffers -iA> repute
and In material prosperity, but liable
or unwilling to abate the nuisance. Virginia
is disgraced, but remains inactive. II the
barriers of the imaginary political line
which divides the District from the state of
Virginia could be wiped away for one week
there is no doubt that every vestige of the
vile dens at Jackson City and at Rosslyn
would, under the influence of the energy
and determination of the Washington
police. melt like snow before the sun.
The law in Virginia is as strict as the
law in the District. If there were a lack
Of law to cover these cases the situation
would DE changed. The fault would then
lie with the legislature of Virginia. There
is some question as it is whether the Iegis-
lature has not been too liberal in the mat
ter of establishing the race track, but there
Is a positive injunction on the statute
books of the state against all forms of
gambling. a most sweeping law under
which scores if not hundreds of individuals
could be prosecuted and undoubtedly con-
victed. The trouble is not in the law but in
the non-enforcement Of the law. If the law
abiding citizens Of Alexandria county are
In earnest in the matter, and have one-half
of the evidence of official misconduct which
they claim TO have they can bring the ac-
cUsed officials at once before the county
court, and If these officials are convicted
they can be removed Complaining citizens
should promptly make good their words by
this action. 1t will not do for the good
people Of Alexandria county and for the
various functionaries of the state and
county TO shift the responsibility for Jack
son City from one to another and SO evade
the perhaps unpleasant duty OF mourning
the displeasure of colony of outlaws and
malefactors. Alexandria county at the pres
ent time Is in little less than a state Of
anarchy Its laws are violated every hour,
its statutes are thrown to the winds. Anar-
chy. which means no law, is preferable to
the possession of laws that are the objects
of common scorn.
OF what use are protcstations OF a will
ingpess to do what there is no lack of OPP
portunity to do. but which Is left undone?
Let the state Of Virginia and the people
and officials of Alexandria county abandon
at once this lamentable, this scandalous,
this injurious inaction!
The Commissioners have not rescinded
the news-suppreSsing order. Verbally and
theoretically that speech-prohibiting in