Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-24

other business. Aside from the money
they take out of circulation-which by
the way. is great deal more than they
put in-they take people away from the
stores and diminish the shopping general
ly. 1t Is my belief that there is hardly
business man In the city who would not
like to see them abolished here forever"
Similar sentiments were expressed with
greater or less degree of emphasis at
Kann's. Lansburgh Bros, and many other
large. as we'll as some of the smaller,
stores One merchant, who feels a deli
cacy In being quoted. stated that within
the past seven months five clerks in his
store had gone wrong on account of the
races and in connection with the book
making that has been carried on in the
city. One of them, he said, was very
bright fellow who had been with the firm
for twelve years. 1.-The races" the mer-
chant continued. Ought to he abolished,
not only because of the injury they do
to the business of the city. but because of
their pernicious and demoralizing effect
upon the young men who patronize them
1t is well understood in my store that
any clerk found even talking srace talk
walks the plank"
Decided Opposition.
Mr.. w. NJ Balderstop of the Palais
Royal said: We are opposed first. last
and all the time to this race business.
We lose more than we gain by it, much
more. and l believe the racing people
take away from our city many dollars
more than they spend here. l personally
know of many instances where money has
been diverted from legitimate courses to
be spent at the race track. We would be
very glad. indeed, If these race meetings
were wiped out altogether
Absolutely Opposed.
Strong condemnation of horse racing as
an incentive to gambling was expressed
by Charles F. Wallraff of the real estate
firm of Moore & Hill. Inc. who said: "You
may quote me any way you wish as abso-
lutely opposed to it. If The Evening Star
accomplished nothing in whole year but
to have fought to. q successful conclu-
sion the proposition Of the abolition of
race track gambling In the District Of CO.
lumbia it would nave accomplished one
of the greatest benefits ever conferred
upon the community"
Mr.. Wallraff is also secretary of the re-
tail trade committee Of the Washington
Chamber of Commerce, and he referred
with emphasis to the harm done to bust
ness generally by the continued tolerance
in the absence Of prohibitory legislation
of the semi annual meets ut Benning.
Il find the keenest pleasure in doing my
humble share toward enhancing the good
Of the community in which we live" he
continued. land you may take 1t from me
that any benefit conferred upon the capt.
tai by the race track people in the
Of money they spend while here
Is inf1nitesimal when compared to the
harm done by the gambling in the racing
seasons. l do not know when / have been
so delighted as by the announcement yes
terday that the House, had passed the.
Sims amendment hope the bill becomes
q law.
1.-THE race track people don't come TO
Washington to spend money They come
to take away with them much as pos
whom you come In contact who has to do
with large numbers of people will tell you
that he notices the effect of the race
meets each spring and fall and for sew
eral weeks after each meet in the way of
slower collections and general shrinkage
Of business.
Regarded as Demoralizing.
John Taylor Arms Of the firm of Arms