The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-03-12
Anti-Race Track Convention.

| Elkton on Tuesday was success beyond
the hopes of its most sauguine friends, as
manufacturer of public sentiment
against the evil around which clusters
every other evil destructive to society and
civilization itself.
The meeting was organized by the
election of VIM. S. Evans, Esq, States
Attorney for the county, as chairman and
]. M. c. Carhart and Saml. G. Bye, secre-
taries. The following named vice-presi-
dents were elected to represent the several
Districts of the county Ist, W. ]. Du-
hamel; end, H. H. Brady; grid, DIR. ]. H.
lamar and H. R. Torbert; 4th, Rev. G. P.
Jones; 5th, J. w. Falls and Rev. w. A.
Wise; 9th, M. E. Kirk; 9TH, Wilson Cou-
don and L. G. White; 9Th, DIR. S. T.
Roman; 9th, A. J. Mearns
A committee OH Resolutions was ap-
pointed consisting of Rev D. Z. Shaw,
chairman; Henry G. Budd, Jr., Wesley
Clayton, R. A. Duhamel, w. L. Mearns,
Thos ]. Wilson, John T. Dewitt and A.
w. Mather, who were ordered to report
at the afternoon meeting. A recess was
taken till p III. and the entire conveu-
ton was invited to partake of free lunch
which the ladies of Elkton had prepared
and which was served in the chapel of the
Presbyterian church where the conven-
ton was held.
! The committee OH Resolutions reported
through their chairman soon after the
reassembling of the delegates the follow
ing series of resolutions, which, after the
customary moves of amendments and
discussion, were unanimously adopted !:
WHEREAS; the fair name of our State and coun-
ty are dishonored by the presence in our midst of
racetrack gambling in its various forms; and
Whereas its adherents, driven from the other
States, have in large numbers settled here with
the avowed purpose of fastening on us this evil;
and whereas its baneful results are seen in the
brutality practiced upon horses. the demoralza-
ton, moral and financial, of men, the corruption
of women and girls, the growing familiarity of our
youth with open and hidden vice, and the man
itest tendency to bargain away responsibility and
decency for money; and whereas these results
proceed from the presence of law on our statute
books so worded as to permit and sanction said
evil and to allow its expansion to an extent lin
tied only by its proftabeness and whereas said
law must be repealed by the same authority
whence it came, the sovereign people OF the
State: and whereas that opportunity will be pre-
sented at the coming session of the Legislature
Therefore be it
heS0tc2d by this convention, mon partisan in
character and representative of the citizenship of
Cecil county," that said law should be so amend
ed OF repealed as to prohibit race-track gambling
under any form and at all times and places within
the limits of Cecil county.
Resotrsd, That the men who shall be nominated
by the respective parties to represent Cecil county
in the Senate and House of Delegates at the
session should be men whose character and stand.
/ ing in the community. and whose opposition to
I and freedom from any and all connection with
race-track gambling and its attendant interests
shall be so manifest that their election will be
sure guarantee of the repeal of said law so far as
il permits race-track gambling in Cecil county in
any form al any time or place
| Resolved, That in addition to the nomination of
such men the several parties in their nominating
convention should declare unequivocally and
Enthusiastically against the present law and
instruct their nominees for the Senate and House
of Delegates to secure its repeal
Resolved, That this convention urges upon all the
people of our county who have regard for its
material and moral interests and who place its
fair name above money to labor from this time
forth for the furtherng of the ends sought by this
preamble and resolution by such honorable
means as the circumstances may require
| Rsoired, That to put into practice or operation
the purpose of this convention and secure the
aims above described we commit the management
OF this antl-race-track gambling campaign to a
committee of twelve to be known as the COM
mittee of public safety. said committee to consist
of one from each ofthe nine districts except the
third, which shall have two together with the
secretary and treasurer, who shall be from the
third district and that this committee shall be
named by the executive committe, who has called
this convention together.
Hon. Anthony Comstock of New York,
who is known throughout the country as
the champion warrior against the evils
which attack society in organized form,
the greatest of which Is race track gam.
bling, was present and addressed the
meeting Mr.. Comstock has been in the
work for rs years and his address was
largely composed of the experience he
has had in the warfare against these or
gained gamblers. The evil is frightful
as he faithfully depicted it, and was a
revelation to most of his hearers who had
never conceived the depth of infamy
practiced by these organized gambling
gangs, who ply their trade all over the
country, travelling from race track to race
track, practicing their nefarious business
under the apparent sanction of law, but
bribing the officers of the law to overlook
or take no action to prevent their infrac.
tions of law.
The Philadelphia Press on Tuesday
morning speaking editorially of the pro-
posed meeting to be held that day at
Elkton says
The respectable element wish to free
Cecil county of this encumbrance. They
regard the race track as a curse to the
community which must be removed.
Their appeal must be to the Legisla- |
ture, since the race track gamblers are
under the protection of the law and the |
constltutionality Of this law is sustained |
by the courts. An Anti Gambling League
has been formed in Cecil county and will |
hold meeting to-day in Elkton. It's in |
fiuence and activity will be directed
towards securing legislation that will per
NIT the suppression of the race track evil |
in Maryland All decent people eyerv-