New-York tribune., 1908-02-10
AGAINST RACETRACKS.
ANIT-G4MBLING SUNDAY.
Sermons tn Forty Churches Urgt
That GoUernor Be Supported.

denominations within the limits of the greater
city sermons were preached yesterday morning
praising Governor Hughes for his efforts to have
the Percy-Gray racing law repealed and race
! track gambling ended. Letters had been sent
to ministers all over the state urging them to
observe yesterday -anti-gambling" Sun
day and, according to the Rev. Dr. Walter
Laidlaw, chairman Of the citizens antf-race-
| track gambling campaign what was said in the
pulpits of the city also said in large num-
ber Of the churches throughout the state.
All the ministers who preached gambling
yesterday asked the of their congregations
to write TO their representatives at Albany and
urge them to support Governor Hughes They
all praised the Governor highly for the stand he
had taken against racetrack gambling. and de-
clared the present law was disgrace TO the
state In many other churches where the min
listers did not preach that particular topic
pamphlets distributed at the doors calling
attention 10 the observance of the day as an
anti gambling Sunday, and calling upon the
men TO join In the campaign against the evil
SAYS FIGHT IS NOT YET WON
DR.. Laidaw said last night he glad TO see
that all denominations were joining in the fight
to support Governor Hughes. but he did not
want it thought that the fight had already been
won. The Percy-Gray Law will not be repealed
this year if the idea prevails among the voters
that the work is already done said DR. Laid
law Every one interested in the movement is
glad the bills providing that S25O0GO be paid
to the agricultural societies 70 compensate them
for the loss Of racing revenues have been favor
ably reported to the Legislature. Blu. the CAM
paign is only Just begun, and we cannot expect
TO win unless every continues to work for
the repeal Of the present law.
The Rev DR. George r. Van De Water, rector
of St Andrews Church, at Fifth avenue and
1e1th street. said in his morning sermon that IL
shame upon all citizens OF the state that
| gambling at racetracks legal, and he urged
| ali the members of his church TO lend their per
sonaI efforts to hasten the enactment Of legis-
| ation which would stamp out the practice. He
said:
| The iniquity of the crime and sin must be snn-
| It's Nervousness. Men. under the guee OF inprov-
ing the breed of horses are aiding IN the de.e9iora
| make them blind 10 the iniauity and US conse-
of the percentage they receive of the revenue de
rived from such sources we have only 70 see tne ne
realize the degradation OF the practice AT the
m ber desire sT foP gain All this lends conrmao
70 the statement desn, mat ws me men aeFeiops
WON'T JUDGE STOCK SPECULATION.
DR. Van De Water said he was ignorant OF
stock speculation. and consequently would not
| the subject He did not believe, though, he said,
that 4 body of men who were responsible for
the standard of commercial values throughout
the world could be in the main wrong wholly
bad But racetrack gambling served absolutely
no good so far he could learn, and should
he obIiterated from the lawful practices OF the
state.
The Rev. DR.. Anson P. Atterbury. pastor OF
| the Park Presbyterian Church, at Amsterdam
avenue and Seth street. told his partshioners
yesterday morning that the present issue was
one in which Governor Hughes should have the
outspoken support OF all right minded citizens
He added
When our great President feels the necessity
Of sending to Congress a message which rivals
it is time for the community 70 pay attention.
And when Governor Hughes takes the s lead d n "a a
low him The honored Governor Of New York
difference between a crime and misdemeanor.
between state prison and mere -,ds fine I1s TIE
have responded to great moral issues in the past
now to the cali OF Governor Hughes
4 great many Of those who att, attack the race. race.
gambling is fostered. In years OF prosperity
there has groWn m up among bns5 ss asuT to r.sis
The inconsistency and contradiction OF our pres
' be allowed to continue but We must also put
stop 70 gambling In every tor RI bIses !. 1aSs !. ne H
most greater than from any other evil. and par
leads
SUPPORTS ROOSEVELT CRUSADE
The evils of gambling were also discussed by
the Rev DR. Loring W. Batten at St. Marks
Episcopal Church. 10th street and Second ave-
nue. Dr. Batten said IL was hard TO draw the
tine between pure business speculation and
stock gambling but he indorsed. he said every
thing President Roosevelt had recently said re-
garding the latter. Dr. Batten said he believed
If the gambling of boys the streets could
be stopped il would put end to Dooroons.
Every one should work. he declared, for the re-
Ar cavalry Methodist Church Seventh avenue
and 12qth street OF which the Rev. DR.. Charles
7, c;oodel is minister, the Rev. A S. Gregg.
resnonding secretary Of the international Reform
Bureau. at Washington. spoke last night on the
can,paign against racetrack gambling Mr..
Gregg declared that he could prove there was
connivance between the racing associations and
+ba bookn,akers and that Governor Hughes
rfgb+ in demanding fixed penalty OF imprison-
,,on+ for gambling At the end of his address
almost the entire congregation arose when he
called fer a standing vote of those who wanted
racetrack gambling stopped
Another supporter of the anti-racing campaign
Yesterday was the Rev. Julian 4 Smyth, of the
Svedenborgian Church. at No ia East S9th
street Il cannot undertake TO discuss the po-
UtfcaI aspects of this question. said Mr.. Smyth.
but the commonwealth IS fortunate in having
a Governor in whose integrity, wisdom and
strength the people seem ready 10 rejoice aad
trust"
Among the notices and memoranda read At the
services in the Madison Square Presbyterian
Church was the following
20 geqea r al in an almost hopeless effort TO abolish
arrb ing at raCetraCkS. 4