The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-20
MONDAY. SEPTEMBER %, 1897.
This paper IS Democratic IN principles
sad . indepeadsar in its sss.us on a." 'ocas


The
One OF the disgusting features of the
Anti-Race Track Amendment light Is the
attitude of the New York papers. Never
has anything been seen to equal IL Iof
public indecency. Without exception, we
believe, these sheets are clamoring tor
the passage of the amendment with m
nammatory headlines about the disgrace
of the state, it's rescue from criminals, its
redemption from the gambling class, the
triumph of law and order and the Victory
OF the decent citizenship of the State.
II all this ak were based on moral
CONVICTION, even though erroneous II
might command some respect But as d
matter of fact. of notorious fact, the New
York papers are not opposed TO race
tracks or to race track gambling. They
cater to It, they encourage it, they giorIy
it and they make oceans of money cut
Of it.
Take the obscene and filthy World
for instance, which this morning prints a
coupon. .~embodying a protest against the
race tracks, and a pledge to vote for the
amendment; why. this same paper prints
daily columns about horse races here ana
abroad. 1t gives pictures and biographies
OF jockies and trainers and bookmakers.
It gives pictures of and points on the
horses, It PRINTS THE ODDS on
EVERY RACE and it GIVES TIPS TO
ASSIST BETToRs.
When Gutenberg and Gloucester were
in their hsyday, it did all these things for
them. and If these tracks were reopened'
It would do the same thing tomorrow. It's
present crusade is not honest journal
ism; it is dsspicable hypocrisy 1t is a
vulgar scramble for circulation, regard
less of consistency. truth, common de-
cency.
Yet such is the narrow, blind prejudice
of the anti-race track element, that we
see the names of eminent clergymen
given as signsrs of the Worlds" coupon,
as the vile sheet puts it. New Jerseys
Roll of Honor'-headed with the name
of venerable Arehdeacon William Jenvey-
We frankly say to DR.. Jenvey and those
who sign with him that in lending him
self to this monstrous hypocrisy, in a
newspaper of all places. he is striking
deeper at the roots of public morality
AZ L-x Cnrp M Mick
crusfus or even Billy Thompson himself.
We nave singled out the World" 1t is
really only a little worse than the other
papers. 1t is more gross, more vulsa in
its methods. In principle it is no worse.
We have. for instance, the highly moral
s-Tripuns'' giving the first page of its sup
plemsnt Up to screams about the amend
ment, and yet printing the card of today's
Gravessnd races on Page 3 of the main
sheet. with weights and other Informal
ton for the convenience Of bettors. To-
morrow It will have another scream ana
also a good full report of the races, un-
less the rain should put a stop to them.
OF such stun is the support of this Anti
Race Track Amendment made up. In no
other civilized country. is any such mar
row legislation thought necessary. The
evils OF gambling are curbed all over
Europe; but nobody thinks It necessary
to resort to radical measures to accom-
plish this end. There are races, with bet
ting, in England, France. Belgium. Ger
many, Italy and Russia to q certainty.
and probably In all the other countries
as well. Just at this moment, an at
tempted anti-gambling movement in Eng
a is the subject of in-extinguishable
laughter.
Why. must we place restrictions upon
ourselves which other people find en-
tirely unnecessary? Are WI SO inmoral
in our instincts or SO deficient in self-con-
troll as a nation, hat we can only avoid
excuses BY bringing our organic law
down to petty detail?
1t seems as If out of very shame. as q
mers assertion of manhood, we would de-
feat this preposterous proposal.
Raflreads worrying Whsslnsn.
The New Jersey Central Railroad has
s..1.4..1r ~ A. l;Sx Of raads xtybfah