The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-04-17
MORAL JIU JITSU
The Rev. John L. Scudder So
Gharaoterizes the Clos
ing Of the Newark
Avenue Poolroom
THE GRAND JURY COMMENDED
Ministerial t'Hot Air. Not AS
Effective AS Action in
Clearing Hudson Of
Gamblers
THE GRAND JURY COMMENDED

The Rev. John l.. Scudder delivered
a prelude to his sermon last night in the
First Congregational Church under the
title, THE Gamblers Must Co. He
said in part:
Every right thinking man in Hudson
County applauds the recent vigorous ac-
tion of the Grand Jury in closing the
notorious poolroom on Newark avenue,
and securing the arrest of the employees
if this villainous resort. The members
did their duty and they did it well.
They threw this vicious giant in short
order and gave this town an exhibition
of moral jiu-jitsu which filed us all with
admiration and will not soon be forgot
ten by the inhabitants of Jersey City.
I'VE congratulate the foreman Of the
Grand Jury. DR.. Arthur J. Walschied
and Mr.. Newton Lawrence, his co-labor-
ing detective, upon their swift and sud-
den descent upon this infamous den, the
securing of evidence and bringing about
an immediate raid by the police, which
for thoroughness and despatch has never
been surpassed during the past twenty
years. While others talked, they accom-
plished.
Ministerial hot air in the pulpit is
good as far as it goes. It sets people
thinking and helps to stir up public sem
timent against existing evils. But pulpit
outcries and dennnciation cannot be
compared in point Of efficiency with this
prompt and practical crusade against
poolrooms by the proper authorities.
"All honor to these two jurors who
assumed the disagreeable task Of beard
ing the lion in his den and making the
monster turn tail in confusion. Jersey
City owes the Grand Jury vote Of
thanks for its courageous and successful
activity. May other Grand Juries fol-
low their strenuous example and stamp
out unlawful practices as quickly and
cleverIy as they have done. The moral
effect of their decisive action was instan-
taneous and far reaching. It was not
necessary for them to close the other
poolrooms; they closed themselves. A
few minutes after this expected raid the
lids We're screwed down tight upon the
remaining pest holes and it looks as
though the lids We're down to stay. No
man is going to conduct criminal bust
ness when there is possibility of his
being surprised by such unwelcome visi-
tors without moments warning and
hustled off by the police. The risk is too
great and it is safer to migrate to other
regions where law means less and Grand
Jurfes are not so wide-awake.
Under these discouraging eircumstan-
ees ] would advise all proprietors of pool
rooms TO pack up their belongings and
get ont Of town as speedily as possible.
1t is nearly the 1st of May and about
time to move. Public sentiment at pres
ent is too pronounced for a prosperous
continuance Of the fleeing business.
"Po0l rooms are curse to any COM
munity and trust we are done with
them in jersey City for many years to
come. They are worse than dens of
thieves, for they not only pick the pock-
cts of their customers; they unsettle them
in their business habits and make them
economically and morally worthless.
Much Of the stealing from employers is
due to this idiotic desire to play the races
and indulge in a form Of gambling where
all the odds are wofully against the play
ers and the proprietors are sure to grow
rich. Such weak-hearted persons should
be protected against themselves. Every
good citizen rejoices IN the present moral
uplleaval and prays that its results viii
be lastine. This city Il ii the midst Of q
revival Of eivic Righteousness andsin this
tfs...s IL An 4,,s,