New-York tribune., 1908-02-17
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RACETRACK GAMBLING.
LEGISLATORS asked to Stop Offence to
Public Conscience.
difnr Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In The Tribune which reached me this even-
ing Is stated the delegates from the various
trotfng associations this state have decided 20
go 20 Albany in body TO protest against the bin
by which Governor Hughes hopes TO abolish race
track gambling and pool selling. Perhaps IN these
circumstances. and taking into consideration The
fact that gambling Is too often condemned on
grounds which will not bear moments serious ex-
animation and fought with weapons which even
moderately skilfuI adversary can turn against
those who use them. 1t may be worth while 70 ex-
plain to those whom il specially concerns why
every who saneIy ~atriotic desires that this
extremely mchievous vice should be made Illegal
With the statutory definition OF this vice Il have
at present no concern; nor do care very much
for the account given OF IL in the Dictionaries.
This is not the fault OF the photographers for il
may be fairly doubted whether II - possible to
give any definition Of II which will not break down
somewhere. All these definitions are either too
broad or too narrow. But there is not the small
est room for doubt that by gambling. distiE-
guished from betting. all thoughtful and educated
men mean a variable miscellany OF acts. nlotives.
tendencies and surroundings every one OF Vncn
is vicious and depraved
Let it stated at once that the vice OF gam
bling belongs 70 two several departments OF eth
les So the mans own character is con-
cerned the mischief OF gambling consists chiefly in
the morbid excitement which IL fosters and which
tends by singulariy rapid and inevitable process 20
stihe conscience. and with them % course,
all the social virtues How insidiou.y the passion
grows and how fatal it's direct and indirect re-
suits are matters OF common knowledge II is
nothing to the purpose TO say that here and there
a gambler may found who plays the game and
seems to be none the for tt The permanent
facts Of human nature are wholly against every
such plea that
Neither can IL be said that the legislation which
Governor Hughes proposes Is grandrnotherly in is
character, and that the gentlemen In Albany have
work 10 do which makes IT impossible TO give very
much attention 10 the cultivation OF our private
morals. They have put down cock fshtirs and
dog fighting which were done behind closed DOORS
because these so-caled sports offended the pub
lie conscience and b-utalized the men who took
part in them, And the world has been the better
for what they did. Let them now Tor the sans
reasons put end 10 racetrack gambling ana pool
selling, the world will be better for that too
But there is also a vice of principle and a grave
public danger in gambling. apart from the dangers
Of excess. Its essential motive. in most cases is
only motive is eovetousness. covetousness IN ia
most fgnoble and anti-social form No doubt there
are circumstances under which the selfish desirs
for gain subserves the public good But the gam
bIer's desire OF gain only he gratn1ed rT h5
neighhor's loss. His industry IS as unfrulttul ID
the community that of rat. to which unl9ve-y
animal in his dark ways. predatory hanlts and
disease producing character he pears ra'h@r
striking resembnce-
VIII the legislators of this state pretend that trs
suppression Of great pest this does not tall
within their proper and legtimate scope2 Il ts 70
be hoped that they will not
In condenlning the pTinctple Of gambling as alto
gether vicious it Is only just 10 discriminate BE-
tween IT'S thousand forms Between, on the ons
hand pIungng Monte Carlo and tna cutthroat
gambling of the racetrack. and on the other rne
investment OF 10 a. church rae tpirif1l as
tha. method Of church fnsncs Isl, there Is rtds
difference and both are distinct in kind from the
penny points at old lady's eribbase table
When the stakes are so fnconsiderahe as 70 Be
quite subordinate TO the intrinsic pleasure oe tbs
game the elements Of mischief vanish. In This. Ike
Jeremy Taylor. the strictest of ali nnorahsts. see
nothing anliss'' wide his cases Of con-
science) But then the stakes might the more
easily be dispensed with '" II 9
Union Springs. y. Y. Feb. u, 1ss