The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-03-19

i - 49, --.---
Display headings n the newspapers
recently announced that Albany soct-
ley was surprised al the action Of
Governor Hughes in forbidding ratfles
and similar attractions In the State
armory at an elaborate social event
to be given under the auspices Of q
battalion OF the National Guard for
the benefit Of hospital The press
report said that similar enterprises
have been conducted in Troy and other
places. but the question of the VIOLA
ton of the lottery law was not rails
ed" So, society is surprised that the
governor is not willing to sanction
gambling by society people in public
building and under the auspices OF
State organization. OF course, they
think gambling in low dives should
be prohibited and punished by law.
but that society people, the good peo-
pie Of the city, and the public officials
/ should be exempt from the Law. These
annoying laws which restrict their In
Idulgence in pleasant vices are deemed
/ to have been made only for the lower
classes. Such conclusion may seem
unwarranted, but it is exactly and lit
orally the theory on which certain
class OF society has constantly acted.
not in one city. but in all the cities.
The provisions of the Penal Code
against lotteries and other forms Of
gambling have always been ignored
and violated with IMMUNITY by that
part of the upper classes OF society
which has been fond of INDUCING in
these forms Of pleasure. In these col
umns, several years ago. attention was
called to a very sharply drawn in
stance in which the chief of police of
the city issued strict orders for rig
i'd enforcement Of the law against RAT
fling in saloons, while at the same
time a fair was held at the opening
Of magnificent temple of great So
cial organization, in which multitude
OF articles, ranging from opera glass
es to automobiles and house and lot,
we're disposed of by various forms of
railing. Tickets for these various ar
ticles were being sold everywhere
throughout the city by the thousands.
Some of the most prominent men of
the city were, In one form or another,
connected with the management of the
AFFAIR This Wholesale gambling for
valuable articles went on smoothly, I'M
disturbed by official interference and
in the presence of the public officials.
Prominent newspapers of the city. so
far from uttering word OF protest,
would not allow any mention Of the IL
legality of the proceedings. even by a
correspondent over his own signature,
in their columns. Yet these same
newspaper are now apparently proud
Of the governor for prohibiting exactly
the same thing in Albany. One of
them had the courage, not long ago.
yirtuousIy to commend the editorial
Of newspaper in another city which
denounced the same evil there. 1t ia
vors Righteousness in the abstract and
at a distance but will not risk men
tioning such an unwelcome topic at
home, when that might be Improbable.
These facts are mentioned to show the
widespread disqualification that has ex-
listed in matters of this kind. by which
the so-called lower classes Of society
have been educated to believe that
there is one law for them and another
for the richer and more favored class
es. To those who have felt the inius-
tice of being punished for what richer
and perhaps better educated people
do with impunity-to those people
who think they are good enough and
high enough in society to be allowed
to indulge in practices which the Pen
al Code prohibits for those below them
land to those officials who wink con-
yeniently at lawbreaking by the priv
Itleged classes, that plain, simple doc
trine of the governor, that the Penal
Code must apply in public buildings
and In good society as much as any.
where. may come with wholesome eff
fect.-Case and Comment.
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