The Washington herald., 1908-04-10
GAMBLING MUST GO
Action of New York Senate
ArOuses Public Ire.
HALT IS ONLY TEMPORARY
Determination of Better Element TO
Wipe out Betting az Race Tracks
strengthened by Sentiment of the
People - metropolitan Newspapers
Stand by Hughes in Crusade.

The temporary halt to the measure TO
wipe out rece-track gambling around New
York has strengthened the determination
of those opposed 10 it 10 renewed efforts,
and from now on there is every indiea-
tion the fight will be a warm one.
With hardly an exception. the press OF
New York is united against the gamblers.
blacklegs, and touts who have fer years
grown rich off those who can Ill AFFORD
TO carry the burden.
Some of the expressions SET. forth ed
itOrially make interesting reading. They
are IN part as follows;
May Become Party Measure.
From the New YORK Tribune
The governor viii undoubtedly have the
people with him in any steps he may take
to press this issue to a con,lusive result.
Various steps are possible . secure fur
ther consideration of the bi 3, If they are
not taken from the table and passed at
the present session.
While respect for the State constitution
is not. perhaps. a party question. the de-
yelopment OF the debate and the align
ment Of the senators upon the bills have
made them practically party issue.
The racing interests have exerted ail
their energies and have succeeded only
IN causing a tie. 10 Is easy TO see how
the supporters Of the bills can increase
their strength. II is not easy TO see how
the opponents can increase theirs. Public
opinion, also, so far as that is a CON
trolling force. is likely to make" itself
heard. If the bills come up again for pas
sage. more potently than hitherto. There
was general confidence that they would
be passed. and there will be general dis
appointment that they have failed,
Constitution FOrbids Betting.
From the Baltimore News.
The constitution Of the State of New
York forbids gambling. but In some way
the organic law of the State was set
aside by the legislature which enacted
the Percy-Gray law legalizing betting and
bookmaking within a race track inclosure
and the law was held TO be constitutional
/ by the courts. Gov Hughes was unable
to see how an act Of the legislature or a
decision Of the courts could make a thing
! legal on one side of a fence which was
Illegal on the other and which the con-
stituti0n forbids on either side Hence
| he called upon the Legislature TO pass a
/ bill prohibiting race-track gambling
Too soon To Begin Growing.
From the New York Times
/ Il is much too soon for the racing men
/ to exult over what they will probably cal
/ their victory. They have yet to reckon
with Gov. Hughes. who has suffered q
| reverse, but not a defeat His resources
are not exhausted If he choose to call
an extra session It can hardly be doubted
that he will compel the senate to pass
/ the bill
/ The reverse Gov. Hughes has suffered
/ in the defeat OF the measure is not of a
/ kind to do him harm. On the contrary
HIS tireless and intelligent iabors in its
/ behalf have commended him TO the con
| fldence and admiration Of the people OF
/ the State and of other States.
Not Gamblers Victory Yet.
/ From the New York Journal
At Albany a number Of senator's know
that they ought TO be in Jail, and they
know that all the people know 1t.
! OF these criminals who take bTibes and
sell out the people, a certain number un-
/ doubtedly will be defeated when they
/ come up for election again. The money
in their pockets viii console them for
+ that
Some Of them viii be reelected because
politics and voters are controlled by Grim
/ inals and political bosses that sympathize
! with the bribe-taklng senators.
It is an old story, and rather a duh one.
| But the gamblers need not rejoice, unless
they are sure Of Gov. Hughes.
/ The men that gave the bribes 10 those
/ criminals in the senate will have wasted
/ their money, unless they have made sure
/ that they are justified in talking of
/ Hughes as one who can talk. but cannot
act.