The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-23
WHERE GAMBLING BEGINS.

Savannah Morning News.
The ministers of the gospel touch the
right key when they preach against prl-
vate and social card playing for gain. 1t
is doubtful if one person in hundred OF
those who gamble began it in the g1lded
gambling saloon; it is the private cara
party, the social game of chance, that
stimulates the desire to get something Tor
nothing by chance. And when the GRAY
ing for games of chance becomes strong,
social games of cards, raffles and the Ike
will not satisfy the wooer Of the tickle
goddess and the gambling saloons are
sought. The step from the social game
to the professional game Is not very
long one. but once taken it is almost I'M
possible of being retraced. It is yard 60
ing and a thousand miles getting back
The vice of gambling is one of the most
seductive and insistent to which poor I'u-
man nature is subjected. 1t is worse than
the craving for strong drink, and IS COM
parable only to the drug habit which, once
acquired, is almost always permanency.
Card playing, per Sc, Is innocent, as
long as there is no forfeit; but the mo-
ment there is something to be played Tor
and won or lost, it becomes gambling.
Nor are cards and dice the only vehlc'es
of gambling to be condemned. There are
ventures called Speculation" that are al
most as reprehensible. The sober-faced
church member who buys or sells cotton
or stocks on a margin Is merely betting
that the market will go up or down by
certain time, though he may delude HIM
self with the flattering junction that he is
merely engaging in a business transaction.
Morally there is no difference between bet
ting on the fluctuations of the stock mar
ket and betting on the turn of card or
the color on which the roulette wheel will
stop.
Gambling has rightly been called uni
versal vice No nation has ever succeed
ed in wholly suppressing it. The reforma-
ton must be a moral rather than legal
one In the United States, where the will
or whim of jury is in many instances the
law, punishment cannot be meted out to
gamblers when some of the jurymen are
guilty of the offense themselves; possibly
in lesser degree than the accused, but
! nevertheless guilty. The judge on the
bench may expound the law and the pro-
scouting attorney may rupture his vocal
cords in arguing to the jury with respect
to its duty, but their combined efforts can
not secure a verdict of guilty where the
1urymen Inlnh hluuly VI SdhIDllh6 DON''"~o
they do it themselves. The preachers are
on the right track One place to fight
gambling is where it originates, and that,
as we have said. is in the playing of So
cial games of chance for valuable consid-
erations. Professional gamblers, that IS
those who run games" are few; but tie
confirmed unprofessional gamblers are
many and are to be found in about all
the walks of life. Nine of ten of this class,
if questioned, would probably admit that
their first winnings or losses were at a
social game, from which they drfted to
Tie gambling saloons.
Tn tackling the gambling evil at its
source the ministers have undertaken a
big job, but they should not despair. 1t
is a good work that they have undertake
en- and is worthy of sincerest support.