New-York tribune., 1908-02-03
Ur Hughes Dra5cs Great applause
at Anti-Racetrack Betting
Wcefing

g9E1G 4
tr,,e was an evil with such widespread PERM.
- in4uence that ii well meriIed a most per
..s.o-, campaign for its elimination. He ia.
- -be enforcement OF every law and said
- if laws were not what they should be pub
a. sentiment would that they Were changed
u. Favored public discussion and free criticism
:: .,e n-ess. This sentiment was literally ap-
plsuded.
7ez-b a Choate presided When Mr. Choate
o,,oa 7,r,an every citizen TO uphold the Governor
:. bis efforts 10 enforce the law he carried the
audience with him Also when he said that the
Governor should not be compelled TO fight the
-scetracks alone, as he often had been COM
nerea 10 fight unaided, there was much ap-
rlause In fact. every mention OF the Governor
and the purpose of the meeting met with inne-
date response.
THE GOVERNORS SPEECH.
As the Governor stepped forward there was
p-olorged applause. and il was several minutes
before he could proceed. He said:
We are net here to-day TO take account of a
rery serious evil. Of the gravest concern to all
the people of the state, and am very much
e-atifed that there seems TO be a disposition 10
take the matter up and 10 show the power OF
public sentiment behind this movement ire
sqec,ire of race or creed and without regard TO
any special religious or moral policy In other
words il Is noJ matter for the churches: II is
lgl ie%N-N- pss AsSSoE SSSt Vi SoSldl ic-
formers; L IS not matter OF puritanical in
ssrenCe upon restriction Of personal liberty: il is
not a matter in which there can be any proper
division ot sentiment among the people. 1t is
simply plain question OF whether the constitu-
tion Of the State of New York shall be enforced
according TO its letter and its spirit.
Ire exact situation has been very clearly
planned by presiding officer, and 1 am very
glad thar he is here to-day, by reason OF his
sminence as lawyer and the authority with
which he can speak as q member and the pre-
siding officer of the constitutional convention
which framed the provision that was adopted by
TIE people
CANT CURE ALL EVILS AT ONCE
DO not sympathize very much with schemes
Of moral regeneration through legislation. We
can accomplish q great deal by wise laws, but
the impetus 70 moral government must ( rule
Be given ny the voluntary work Of citizens who,
With the force Of conviction, press their views
upon the people, awaken the conscienceS Of the
people and secure that public sentiment
cording which alone any true moral reform
can be accomplished. ! also have very little
sympathy for any ambitious scheme for doing
away with al evil in the community at once.
Ne must be content with that steady though
slow progress which consists in moving forward
and gaining step by step what is practicable in
he way Of reform.
There ara a great many VINO soon as any
particular movement is suggested al once sug-
Fest much wider area OF purpose. In con-
necton with one particular undertaking II is
suggested. Why not embrace this and the other
within the scope Of the same design? Admi-
fable purposes. But, my friends, the question
noT before Us with regard TO this particular
matter is not whether ali gambling be
stopped. Il is not whether card playing and
poker parties and the various devices that are
resortea 70 in connection with the play of the
Gambling instinct be absolutely abolished
he question is simply whether we shall puI an
enc 10 this legalized Generalization
LOCALIZED DECENTRALIZATION"
say legalized decentralization, for that, in ef-
feet is precisely what We have to-day When
ne Court Of Appeals had before il the validity
o the so-caIled racing law IL did not deal with
what the Legislature had to do That Is not
ne question for the court in the construction Of
TIE constitution. The question was what the
legislature could do II a question of the
validity of legislative action within the restric-
tons which had been marked in the funda-
mental law. The court reached The conclusion
mat the enforcement Of this provision Of the
constitution within the legislative discretion,
= la as The selection OF means was concerned
ne duty, the duty TO prohibit poolselling and
bookrnskIng, Was laid upon the Legislature II
was 10 pass laws 10 carry the prohibition OF the
constitution into effect. but the penalty which
night BE- regarded sufficient to constitute leg
lslaIon 10 carry the constitution into effect was
.eft 70 the discretion OF the Legislature. and so
ne Court Of Appeals said that the leaving OF
oe matter 10 the recovery Of the money lost in
eifl action. might be regarded within the leg
-sallFe discretion a sufficient penalty IN case
Z poolsellirlg and bOokEaking upon racetracks-
WHY DON'T YOU STOP GAMBLING? 80
Nov. am asked 3y some good people every
-. - ana then who write 70 me Il the constltu-
- is opposed 10 racetrack gambling, why don't
sou stop race1rack gambling Every once in q
N'iie some writes and says. 1t IS IN
sour power as Governor TO-DAY 10 put an end
- - facetravk gambling. Why don't YOU DO II
..afef YOU taken the cath Of office 10 enforce
" laws u fhe state
Ny friends, the constitution is the constitution /
. . eHpeunded by the courts. and law passed |
e-cef The constitution and upheld by the courts /
ne iaW q the state until II IS changed by the
= 7sisieiure And the law OF the state to-day Is /
- ueclslon Il the Court of Appeals upnoidiHg |
- PROVISION II the Percy-Cray act BY Whlch |
p--iaiE u the game of pOOiseiiing and booh- /
S.t-t-s on raCetTacks. ii the absence or me /
g g efiEg II token voucher. is the recov- |
- Ni- money lost in civil action. wfllie tfie
pSs-lS IN other cases is punishment by imprls- /
-. III OF hne. That Is The law OF the state /
,tiL NliI be enforced by police magistrates
sN-- VIII be enforced by jurieS. which IS the |
ltr District ArtorneVS-tte IL s. for All the /
:. 'Ie q the state And because that is the law /
= - ana because II ought not 10 De the law
4, g. silG becauS@ j is In effect afthoHgh hot
- .ieofy- under the DECISION in contraYention /
- 1l+" t1af another law be passed which VIII |
,t'ste}rack gambling on the same basis as |
~ ing elsewhere. and make the punishment
60 alVGlate one Of Imprisonment o. the Oh
PROPOSITION or MORALS.
as,S Is very great pleasure once ia Il while TO
h 'i@ 10 pu1 your finger on something tilat can
me- n'e ln TIE Way Of progress and TIE oetteF
- = conditions. We have great deal OF
,,Iitt In defining the exact evils with "fficn
',ysa deal and even greater difficulty IN as
r,,a .iAS M iTGle remedies by En5cH Y" may
S thfi;. tEe should lose 10 opportunity IoF
n .lsr'issiGn Ct those questions. no opportunity
rsH INTO effect any remedy which we DeiieNe
tsgb.~ S'oialgllsh the result. bui when we nave
;ls O"lpre as d plain proposition Oh iaW' a
N tipp@siii9n OF Morals, an obvious duty IL
-egiaia'ure, then the entire Duolic sentiment