The Washington herald., 1908-03-07
washiugton's Disgrace.

The City of Washington. Capital of the
United States. is about TO be disgraced
again.
II disgraces itself semi-annually. In the
spring and autumn, by giving itself over
TO an orgie of gambling-public gambling
at the race track.
This occurs in the very shadow Of the
Capitol and the White House. It is coun-
tenanced, if not approved, by people in
power. 1t is conducted under attractive
auspices. Smart society on certain days
turns out en- masse and gives fashion
able. If not exclusive, patronage to the
gambling events.
Men and women Of high and humble
station fall victims to the betting con-
tagion and lose their money 10 a crowd
of common blaeklegs from New York.
who in polite racing parlance. are called
bOokmakers
II is estimated that no less than half
million dollars is yearly diverted by the
racing meetings from the channels OF
trade into the pockets Of these New York
gamblers and the wealthy race-track
owners
But this is not all. Petty defalcations
innumerable are part Of the history Of
each racing meeting Crime increases.
Misery and hardship ensue. Suffering is
carried into countless homes. A blight
comes upon the community that is felt
for months after. The I'll effects are
barely gone until the blight comes again.
And the shame Of it all is that no
united. vigorous. determined efforts on
the part of Congress or the District au-
thorities have ever been put forth to stop
this orgie Of public gambling-to prevent
the Capital of the Nation from thus twice
year being disgraced and placed in so
unenviabe a position in the eyes Of the
world.
Nothing is more hurtful to the business
interests of Washington, yet the Board Of
Trade and the Chamber of Commerce. so
alert in other directions. have taken no
stand against these racing meetings.
Nothing is more productive of misery
and crime, yet the police authorities
who move so zealously against the policy
writers-petty gamblers-apparentl be-
come impotent when confronted bv the
bookmakers and their powerful allies
from New York.
Nothing Is more harmful to the morals
and the good name Of the fair Capital
yet even the President OF the United
States. who lives here and stands always
for law and order and right living. has
been too busy With governmental affairs
TO issue an order for the suppression OF
the evil, which would mean its suppress
sion forthwith.
law was enacted some years ago. in
tended to stop bookmak.ng in the Dis
trict Of Columbia On one technieaIity or
another that law, whose purpose was
clear. has since been undergoing a test
and this procedure apparently is to con-
tinue indefinitely while the gambling
goes on with the complacent indulgence
OF those in power. New and more strin-
gent legislation is impending. bat even
If it be enacted into law the same fareleal
proceedings that have brought the pres
ent statute into contempt may naturally
be expected unless the pressure Of public
Opinion-or an order from the White
TIouse-forees drastic action by the au-
thorities.
What Is going to be done about it?
What are the authorities doing, or going
to do? Is this spring meeting, now
scheduled. with its attendant evils. TO be
permitted?
Is Washington, the Capital OF the Ma
ton, again. 10 give itself over TO an orgie
OF gambling and disgrace itself anew?
We await the answer.