New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-04-27

make the constitutional provision effective ana
TO pass a law providing penalty Whch VIII hot
be a Inockery. That is the plain mandate OF
the constitution. The Legislature has the
power and for the exercise of its power II is
accountable 10 the people They demand 9uSt
exercise Of power, fair and impartial according
10 the standards of democracy. They ob1ect 10
the abuse of this power by making racetrack
gamblers a favored class; they object TO this un-
necessary public temptation and demorallzauoh
Of youth they object to this tricking OF the Con
stitution by penalty which in erect Is no pen
atty at all.
Shall the constitution be obeyed? Suppose
ent penalties for gambling and TO substitute
simply a liability to civil suit suppose III
this way they threw open our state to lotteries
and public gambling establishments and made
New York the American Monaco. Would any
say because the Legislature had power TO
fix penalties that IL had carried out the constl-
tutional mandate when. by imposing a penalty
ridculousy ineffective il had permitted all sorts
of gambling TO flourish throughout the state!
Could any eloquent advocate be hired to submit
such a plea? And vet that is precisely what
II has done with regard 10 racetracks- If this
differs in any aspect il Is the more reprehensibe
because il is special privilege granted to an
INSCRIPTIONS money power and maintained at
its behest
No. There can he no confusion with regard
10 the duty of the Legislature by any talk about
its power to provide penalties The people
know What adequate penalties are. and they Will
insist that their representatives pass appropriate
laws
Then some one is heard to say that it is wiser
to regulate the evil That was the OLD argu-
ment a to lotteries. The constitution does not
say you must regulate, but il says you must
prevent. Every one knows you can put stop
10 racetrack gambling If You Will pass proper
laws If you think it better TO regulate the evil
then ask that the constitution be amended. Do
not try to nullify it That is dangerous work
Your property rights depend upon it. Maintain
il in its integrity if you would be secure.
Again. some says that he fears that there
may be more poolrOoms if the law does not dis
criminate In favor Of racetrack gambling. Per-
haps the desire to get something for nothing
could he taken of by lotteries or public
gaming houses. But this is no reason for their
blishment. either directly indirectly, for
Of suitable penalties. Now. in fact the
discrimination in favor Of racetrack gambling,
instead Of being an aid. is obstacle TO the en-
forcement of the law against poolrOoms Read
the records of the courts and note the pattry
fines which have been imposed for booknnaking,
If YOU to deal adequately with the poolroorn
evil you must deal adequately with racetrack
gambling. 1t is my desire that both should be
dealt with by effective penalties.
NOT GUILTY OF COERCION.
When a clear issue like the present ore is pre-
sented what q scurrying around there is to find
some basis for collateral attack, SO it Is said
that the executive has been guilty of coercion
l wonder that any one can say IL with
straight face. Certainly ii is amusing. coming
from those who try TO convert our politics into
a feUdal system with its petty tyrannles. ana
find their chief delight in exercising authority
over elected officers. Is it coercion to state to
the public the grounds Of my recommendation:
Is il coercion to write large before the people
OF the state the unaquivocal demand of the con-
stitutiono I have treated the Legislature. and
spect that is due 10 a coordinate branch OF
government Therefore. ! have not sought TO
bride it: | have not threatened its members or
endeavOred TO SeduCe them by promise OF pa
tronage. There is 10 coercion but the coercion
of public opinion after discussion, and that Is
the safety of the state
And then it is said that this issue causes po-
| ltical embarrassment. As If il ever should en-
barrass any party TO insist upon compliance
with the constitution, Whatever embarrass-
n-.nt there may be will follow upon opposition
to the sentiment Of the state that the constitu-
The responsibility for the consequences of pub
lie indignation lie with those who have outraged
the public conscience. l have simply presented
the matter 50 that the public may understand
il Il is not my personal affair. No personal
interest Of mine is bound up in it. have en-
deaYored to represent The people Of the state
and ii | have truly represented them they Will
AXE care of the reckoning.
The other day some one suggested in bitter
ness that a stake might be erected in front of
the Capitol al which opponents might be burned.
The IRONY misses it's mark The fires Of execr-
tive reprisal have not been lighted during this
administration. But there is fire which in
democratic community should always he re-
plenished- the fire of public opinion. kindled
and renewed ny the intelligence ana conscience
Of the communty-a destructive fire. blasting
the ambitions Of those who are faithless their
trust, consuming the baseness and the treaCh-
crv tn ideals which enter into political
life-a wholesome: purifying fire which throws
off the dross and gives the pure gold of
honest representative government
The resolutions adopted declared the sense of
the meeting be. first, in support Of the Gov
ernor's position against racetrack gambling:
second. urging the local representatives in the
Legislature to support the anti-raCetrack gam
bling bills third. disappearing the action Of
Senator Grattan in voting against the bills and
characterzing his attitude a misrepresenta-
ton Of the sentiment of his district: fourth.
recognizing Governor Hughes as a foe Of special
privilege: fifth protesting against the policy
that representative in the Legislature owes
his allegiance TO his political organization
rather than TO the people who elected him. and
sixth, declaring that conscience must be the con-
trolling element with legislators in the con-
sideration of public questions.
Bishop Coadtutor r. H. Nelson of the Epis-
copal Diocese Of Albany. and David A Thomp-
son also spoke
After he had finished speaking here Governor
Hughes was driven TO Troy in an automobile,
arriving there shortly before o'clock Long
before the Governors arrival the theatre where
the meeting was held crowded and 1t was
necessary to close the doors. several hundred
people being unable to gain admittance The
Governor was loudly cheered by the crowd out
side and was forced to elbow his way through
it. Mrs. Hughes accompanied him TO both
meetings.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT TROY.
Previous to the arrival Of the Governor
speeches we're made by the Rev John Walsh
rector Of ST Peters Roman Catholic Church of
Troy, and Corporation Counsel George 3 Well
ington They both commended the Governor
on his attitude Robert Cluett presided and !
resolutions were adopted indorsng the Gov, /
errors position and the action of the Assembly, /
and deploring the action OF members of the |
Senate who opposed the anti gambling bills |