The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-14
THE END OF GAMBLING.

THE Board of Supervisors yesterday stood by
IFS moral. official and public duty. Resisting
all Establishments and no doubt putting many a
Temptation behind them, the members by an almost
unanimous vote passed the ordinance prohibiting
nools and bookmaking the races. 1t was at once
cent 70 the Mayor and was promptly signed, putting
it beyond reconsideration and making 1t the per1na-
nent law of the city unless repealed Repeal beng
more difficult than reconsideration and recensidera-
ton being more difficult than defeat IN the first IN
stance, it will be seen that this moral ordinance is
now the farthest possible remove from danger The
Call has made plain its position on this subject. The
list of oenses, of the fall of and women, the
losses of good name character and estate which, we
compiled and published a history OF the rum
wrought and degradation caused by track gambling,
long and distressing it was, told but fracuon OF
the harm and sorrow and blighted lite traceablesto
this aluent fountain of evil and corruptlon 1T has
caused the betrayal of public and private trusts OF
personal obligations, of the most sacred bonds that
can tie man to his conscience and woman TO her
honor
With no inconsiderabe knowledge OF the world
and much observation of the weaknesses OF human
nature and the pitful lapses to which men are prone
we confess to an unusual of the appalling depths
to which one may fall when the feet slip once on the
downward way which the Supervisors have now
closed The husbands who fugltlves from justice
OF serving sentences in prison. the sons who have
broken the hearts of their parents and the women
whose lives are eclpsed in dshonor rise IN CHASTITY
ranks to accuse the track gamblers OF their undong
It is sometimes said that deserve no praise Tor
doing their duty but this hardly holds in this case
Long suferance and protracted tolerance OF this evil
had given it the shelter that time and indifference
throw around irnmemoria custom The booksellers
and bookrnakers could enlist on their side quite
sDectabe business interests and could avail themselves
of the neutrality OF the indifferent to such extent
that lacking moral conscience the Supervisors could
have evaded the responsibility which they have met
and discharged CALAMITY like men, They deserve ap-
plause they merit every assurance OF popular ap-
prevail and the city cannot too much honor them
Every wife and mother, every man and woman, and
every boy and lad in this city safer to-day than yes
terday. The happiness of every home the honesty of
every man and the honor of every woman is safer
than before.
The pulpit has its share of the public gratitude. 1t
rallied unitedly in demanding that the law remove
this lure and leading into. temptation. The ministers
in temperate and restrained but truthful and heart
reaching terms, held up the evil and summoned the
forces of public authority provide its remedy They
fulfilled their moral office and did it timely and we'll
The Call congratulates the city that shadow has been
lifted from its form and thanks the Supervisors who
heard the tumult without, demanding end to this
vice. and the still, small voice within which prompted
the duty SO we'll and quickly done.