The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-25
THE CIVIC FEDERATION AND THE
LOTTERIES.
S. F. City Arqus, June 20.

Inc Civic Federation has buckled on its
armor, declared war against the lottery evil
ana given notice that it will show no quarter
70 those engaged in the business; but it is not
hkely that it will score a monumental victory
until 1t secures the election of honest Police
Judges, the reorganization of the Police De-
partment, and its members turn informers, and
prosecute In person the violators of the law in
the courts. The federation laid its grievance
before the late Grand jury but that body, for
reasons best known to itself, did nothing be-
yond recommending, in its final report, that
the Legislature make the sale of lottery
tickets and advertising and aiding the lot
terry business felony instead of misde-
meanor, and the verdict of a majority of
the trial jury sufficient for conviction, and ad-
vlslng that the present statutes be more rigidly
enforced. OF course no attention will be paid
10 this. 1t takes money to have such bill
passed by a California legislature, and the fed
Grafton is opposed to ''boodling." That the lot
tery evil Is one of the greatest enemies of the
puDnc veal, having tendency to encourage the
gambling instincts of both men and women and
In corresponding ratio to discourage thrift in
the vain hope OF acquiring wealth without re-
turning an adequate compensation to the COM
munity, with the result that thriftlessness and
poverty invariably follow, there can be no
question. Indeed it affects the community
more than any other form of gambling, not
perhaps in itself, but because it is so far-reach
Ing and all-embracing in its effects. That the
evil mas strong hold in this City is q fixed
TACT. Nearly every business block contains an
agency, and tickets can be purchased at almost
any saloon, grocery, bakery, or tobacco and
cigar store, or from numerous policemen, or
the hundreds of peddlers who go around from
to buy them. Of course the sale of lottery
tickets in this City could be effect
ually suppressed could the heads
OF the Police Department be induced to do
their duty. They know where every wholesale
agency is located, the name of the wholesale
dealers, and the name of every person who
peddles lottery tickets in San Francisco, and
just where he or she can be found when
wanted But they don't dare enforce the law
prohibiting lotteries, and for the simple reason
that for years past they have been paid large
sums OF money monthly to protect lottery deal
ers, and were they to now wage war against
these law-breakers they know the latter
would howl so loud and long that an
enraged community would rise in its might
and punish them as they deserve. Probably
the worst of these violators of the laws is the
Little Louisiana Lottery Company of this City,
the stock of which is held by prominent poll
ticians, and, it is said, police officials.
Its headquarters are we'll known to Chief
Crowley, as also its stockholders and man
ayers; and although for years it has open
ly conducted its business right under the
eyes OF the Chief, there is no record that
any OF its managers or stockholders have
even been sent to Jail for violating the lottery
law. Why have these men escaped punish
ment? Are they less guilty than the poor
devils who are forced to peddle tickets, or steal
that they may live? The Argus would like to
see every person engaged in the lottery busi-
ness punished as they deserve-not only the
managers and ticket agents, but their protec-
tors, the police; but it is not probable that
such thing will ever be done Not that there
is not sufficient law to do this, but because
there is no power to enforce the law.