The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-04-07
Known Speakers Hold
Special Services For
Young Men.
.;ssssREAT VICE OF GAMBLING.
he Need Of a Live Y. M.
c. A. And Other Subjects
Discussed.
A Lecture on GambIlng.

Prof. u. w. DYER, professor of Polit-
zeal Economy, History and Sociology at
Vanderbilt University addressed a mest
ing to men only at the First Presbyterian
church Sunday afternoon on the subject
of Gambling" Prof. Dyer has recent
dy made some special investigation of
the subject in his work for the passage
of the Rice-Ligon bill, and he started
out by saying be thought the coneidera-
ton of the subject Of vital Importance
to our social order. Every man," he
said, sis moulder of public sentiment,
and stror g public sentiment is needed at
this time.''
1.-TWO strong forces have existed since
the beginning of civilization: The love
of sex and the desire for material gain.
To the extent these two forces have been
controlled, to that extent civilization
has advanced. The sanctity of the home
and the sanctity of private property are
the two grand ideas of civilization. We're
you to ask me where the strength of this
country lies, would not point you to
our great navies or to our splendid rail-
way systems or to our gre t cities, but
to the vine clad country Apmes of the
land where every member of the house.
hold is engaged in some useful service
and enjoys that reward that comes from
honest toll. Each man works for what
he owns and would take nothing from
his neighbor or any man without giving
value received in return"
"There are several ways of coming in
to property under the law, but the law
holds there must TO mutual exchange
of values. There dre three ways of com
ing into the possession of property with
out the law, by force, thievery and by
games of chance, ccd the robbeT, thief
and gambler belong in the same class
from an economic standpoint. don't
mean to say they are in the same class
always from a moral standpoint, for a
man must be judged by his motives
and many good man has gambled
without realizing its wrong just as many
a country boy in watermelon season has
stolen for finn, not realizing the wrong
In fact for some time gambling was LOOK
ed Oh as harmless diversion, but the
great X-ray of experience has shown it
one of tbs worst of vices.
"a game of cards for a prize is not
gambling, If the prize is given as free
gift, though would not be understood
as endorsing card playing. But there
must be some stake, some risk from all
parties engaged before the term gamb.
ling could apply, Guessing contests,
such as newspapers occasionally hold is
not gambling, provided value received is
given and the chance at some other prize
is a voluntary contribution.
"When we come TO the difference
between gambling and legitimate specu
lation it is radical. In legitimate specu-
lation all parties to the transaction may
gain. They do not always do so but
that is because of some Interior incident.
In gambling one party must lose before
the other can gain. In business we are
bound to take risks and trust to the
future. There is one kind of 80 called
speculation, however, that is the very
worst kind Of gambling, and that is deal
lng in futures. The is not legitimate
speculation, it is simply bet,and it en-
braces all the vicious features OF gamb-
alnR and tends to upset the great law of
supply and demand as we'll.
''Gamblmg for fun or for diversion |
coon leads to gambling for gain, for there |
is peculiar fascination in getting some |
thing for nothing that leads a man on |
until he becomes that parasite upon the |
economic body, gambler. No surety
company will go on the bond of gamb-
der, no bank or other commercial enter
prise where sums of money pass through
the hands of the employees will retain
a gambler. for gambling is close to dis.
honesty and it has often been found that !
a man who will gamble will steal. No
civilized country tries to regulate, to
legalize vice. The only attitute to.
ward the great vice-gambllng, is to fight
it. Young men go into it and are de-
stroyed before they realize it's danger.
THE peculiar state of society, the great
ar of the age, the demand for money,
: o money, lead respectable, sensible
men to gamble. Sordid commercialism
has not only a firm grasp upon the great
business interests of the country, but it
has prevented the law. it has entered
the pulpit, it has penetrated the doctors
office until today man is great only
10 comparison as his wealth Is great.
point you for an ideal to that greatest
of American generals-Robert E. Lee,
man who held his name, his honor
higher than material gain. Establish
high ideals. young men, and live up
TO them. Take the central idea of the
sermon on the Mount and let that be
your guide"