The Washington herald., 1908-03-02
Believes in Gambling.

Editor The Washington Herald:
It does seem that any effort tending to
deprive people Of the right to bet is a
step toward paternalism. as well as an
abridgment of individual rights that
contrasts sharply with that which obtains
in all other countries, and should not be
tolerated in this republic.
We will soon arrive at the point that
legislation will tell Us when and how TO
eat, and when 10 spank the baby. II We
legisiate upon everything that IS abused
and try 10 check abuses by legislation
the policeman and his club will soon con-
stitute the greater portion of our pOpula-
ton and authority Why not pen Us up
at once and have US follow those who
constitute themselves our guardians? Are
we a hundred millions Of weak children?
This country has gone TO a great deal
OF expense and trouble TO better its horses.
cattle, chickens. &c. &c. It was thought
the greatest folly In Wade Hampton in
lS39 to import a Durham bull from Eng
land which cost him $4,000. The stock
from that start is stiH in South Carolina,
and commands a much better price shan
the scrubby stock. He also imported
'blooded horses" and chickens.
The history OF "blooded stock" IN this
country shows an amount OF lavish ex-
penditure OF money, labor, and persever-
ance as much as I'm any other field In
which we found ourselves deficient; and
then TO think as the end was about to be
reached and the climax within sight
everything was destroyed, for with killing
betting racing will cease. and hence
blooded horses will be Of no more value.
and the work of a century is destroyed
and the loss 10 thousands Of farmers will
be hard to bear.
But this is a DEPRESSION Why should
we try 10 make crime Of betting when
no other nation does? Kings and all the
-Tistocracy Of all nations indulge in it.
and Washington. Lafayette. Andrew Jack
son, Clay. Calhoun, Benton, and a host
Of our greatest men gambled. and It has
such a firm footing in the human make
up as almost 10 constitute the sixth sense
Every people in all time; go as far
back in the maze Of history as YOU please
you viii find them ready TO back their
judgments.
We Americans bound our horizon by
the dollar We think Of nothing else. We
have not enough diversions and attrac-
tons There are ten places of amusement
In Europe to one here. and people there
I DO
here. and this is largely the reason whv
many Americans prefer Europe to their
own country.
A grown-uD man-an adults treated
like he is rational entity. and the 20
liceman and his club does not dominate
There are few things more diverti1g
than horse racing-"the sport of kings
and there is no reason why an American
cannot go 70 a race and bet his money as
people do in other countries.
The weak VIII go to the wall anyway
and do 1t in spite of all legislative enact
ments. If they do not do it at the race
track they will at some other place that
legislation has not headed them off at vet
Grown-up, rational people do not want
to be treated like children. Sir Walter
Scott says:
He either fears his fate too much.
or his deserts SMALL
Who fails to put 1t TO the touch
To win or lose Il all
Caesar put his ito the touch" when he
crossed the Rubicon; our Congressman