The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-12
TUESDAY, OCTOBER L, 1887.
This paper Is Democratic sn principles
end is Independent in ats oaelcs on a." iocds
questions.
INC ..Journsr., Gambllng Expose.

co,ntv are trne-and of course it cannot
be doubted that gambling is always preva-
lent TO a greater or less extent here and
everywhere else-what a farce comedy
light the revelation throws upon the re-
cent race-track amendment to the Con-
stitution.
Here we have the whole State worked up
to the passage of an enactment which
drives from the State such high-grade and
reputable sporting resorts as Monmouth
Park and Linden Park used to be, while
low dives and ~disreputable bunco shops
are able to flourish, drawing their patron
age from the poor. the weak and the
vicious.
1t is still more strange that the paper
which agitated for the adoption OF the
amendment" should be the one which
now so conclusively proves the futility OF
all anti-gambling legislation, which DEM
onstrates that the only effect of drastic
legal prohibition is to add fresh moral
debasement to the game and its partici-
pants and TO bring in besides shocking
elements of official corruption.
1t is a most painful but altogether I'M
~avoidable thought that gambling cannot
be suppressed in crowded modern COM
munities. There is not a city in this State
which is free from it. If it is less in New
ark than here. the only reason is that
Newarkers can SO easily cross over to
Harrison. That it is rife in Paterson was
shown by an upturning in that city two
or three years ago, not unlike the one
which the Journal" has now undertaken.
New FORK is honeycombed from end to
end with every sort of gambling den, from
the bucket shops in the purlieus OF Wall
street to the pool rooms of the Tender
loin and thence out into the policy nests
of the extreme East and West sides. OF
this fact we nave the official assurance
of President Moss of the Police Board,
publicly given only a few weeks AGO.. The
reason for this universally is obvious.
HI speculative instinct is innate in hui
mainly. 1t is a prominent feature of the
characters of seventy-ive per cent. of all
human beings. 1t will come out in one way
Of another. The impulse is the very same
which makes a poor devil of a colored
laborer risk his five cents a day upon a
gig at the policy shop. as that which
makes your church warden or your soci-
ETY. woman, living in the bosom of the
400, a devotee of poker for stakes or pro-
gressive whist or euchre for prizes.
1t does not follow. that the State should
not take all proper steps to curb the ex-
cess and abuse of the propensity; all ages
and peoples have struggled to do SO with
varying success. But it does follow that 1t
Is safer and better for the law to leave
some outlet for the universal passion,
than to attempt a total prohibition, which
will not be supported by public sentiment,
which cannot be enforced, and which is
the cause of greater corruption and i'm
morality by bringing law and govern
ment into hatred and contempt.
Just how far law should go in licensing
any form of gambling, it is unnecessary
to discuss here. 1t is a very large sized
question, which cannot be disposed of
off-hand, whatever fanatics may think.
The only purpose of the present argu-
ment is to repudiate the foul and unneces-
sary aspersions which the Journal is
attempting to cast Upon this city. That
the Journal has performed a consider
able exploit from the point of view of
s.syellow covers we are ready to concede,
and we are willing to offer 1t our compli-
ments upon its enterprise and public
spirit"-we believe these are the favorite
phrases of its New York prototypes.
Through the employment of one or WI
stranger from New York, of the hybrid
breed, half reporter. half detective, who
are the heroes of the p%ustulent school of
n-ewspapering, 1t has succeeded in doing
what the local police. who are well known
to all the gamblers, could NOT succeed in
doing. 1t has located certain gambling
houses.
Everyone suspected the existence of
these, but no local person could get the
necessary evidence to prove their charac-
ter. This, the Journal has done, and
it is entitled to all the glory which the
lovers of public scandal are willing to
accord to 1t.
We resent, however, and we do so in
the name of the city and of all citizens
who nave a pride in their home, the
inference that, because these places have
been located. Jersey City is any special
.'sink of iniquity,'' or 'lazare house Of
moral pestilence.' as the journal" would
have US believe. We have stated in gem
eral terms the conditions which prevail
in other places. Jersey City is no bet
ter and no worse than they are. Indeed,
If any thing, surprise must be felt that
the number of gambling houses which
the Journals sleuths we're able to find
was SO exceedingly limited in number, 1t
speaks rather well for the morals Of the
community.
pafara blasting 4hese ramarlxs we feel