New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-30
VICTORY or TIE GIM8LIYG MINORITY

VICTORY or TIE GAMBLING MINORITY.
1t was case of faith against works Mt the
special election in Ncw-Jersey on Tuesday. The
opponents Of racetrack gambling were strong
in the faith that the ant-gambling amendment
would be adopted. while the gamblers went To
the polls and worked against It's adoption. Two
thirds of the voters of Ncw-Jersey are hostile
To- the lcgaliza.ion Of gambling. but they did
not take the trouble 10 vote and the gamblers
triumphcd although they were backed by not
more thun one-fourth Of the electorate. The
gamblers had n direct personal interest in The
struggle because II touched their purses, whereas
their opponents were battling solely FOR n pr,n
clplc.
Still. II is n mistake TO say that "New-IcrScy
went for racing" New,jorscy did nothing of
the kind The proposed amendncn, TO the
Constitution which was rejected on Tuesday
reads thus:
No lottery shall he authorized by the Legs-
lature or otherwise In this state: and no ticket
in any lottery shall be bought or sold within
this state. nor shall poOsclling bookmaking or
gambling Of any kind be authorized or allowed
within this state. nor snail any gambling de-
vice. practice or game Of chance now prohibited
hy law Toe lcgallZcd. or the remedy penalty or
way diminished.
The failure Of that amendment simply leaves
the matter where II has always been-wih the
legislature The statutes now prohibit race
track gambling under severe penalties but the
Legislature may ut any time repeal these laws
or modify the penalties Had The Amendment
been adopted the Legislature would haFc found
rs hands tied As IL is. the gamblers have been
50 much encouraged by the apathy shown at
this weeks election that they are preparing 10
renew the agitation for n reopcnIng OF the race
tracks
The recent history of this racctracl agitation
in Ncw-Icrsoy IS n curious and interesting one.
In lS92 thc gamblers formed a coalition with
leading Democratic politicians under the terms
Of which tie former supplied most ~ the money
to elect n Democratic Governor and Legislature
and United States Senator. The politicians In
return helped the rac"track men TO pass
series OF laws legaiizng all the lnfamies OF
Guitenburg. Gloucester and Clifton A whrl-
wind OF Indignation swept over Ncw-Jersey. and
while the Legislature OF 1893 was yet IN session
Tie law-ah!ling people Of the State stormcl the
Capitol. and in the very Assembly Chamber H.
self held 4 meeting dcnouncnS the lawmakers
and their owners. Speaker Tom" Flynn and
Billy" Thompson. OF Gloucester. At the polls
the following November the voters swept the
gambling party from power. and their laws
We're promptly repealed.
Then II WAS decided that the only sure way
TO prevent repetition OF the scandal was 10
nail down into the Constitution Il prohibition
against the Equalization OF gambling This ran
It's course through two successive Legislatures
without opposition. Indeed the Democratic
State Convention OF 1895 specifically pledged IL
self TO the amendment. or course. that pledge
was not kept N the polls last Tuesday.
The good people Of the State assumed thar the
amendment would be adopted as n matter of
course The Tribune warned them agains; over
confidence. and It's warning has been borne ont
10 the letter by the results NJ the polls One
third of the citizens voted. and the amendments
were beaten The gamblers pollcd their full
strength, while the opposition registered only
an Insignificant fraction OF theirs Faith is n
beautiful thing. but f. takes votes 10 carry cleo
tons