The Washington herald., 1908-04-11
SATURDAY. APRIL II. 1908.
Political Value Of Gamblers support.


An interesting controversy has broken
cut with regard TO the political value of
legislative support Of the race-track gam
bling interests. Both parties in New
York are wrangling for the dubious glory
Of having defeated the anti-gambling
bills. 1T has saved the Republican
party remarked one Of the machine
leaders Of that organization when he
heard Of Gov. Hughes discontinue. and
it is notorious that Democratic politicians
count on the support Of the racing inter-
ests IN return for Democratic votes
against the governors measures.
Gov. Hughes himself has adopted a
quite different view. Although he has not
made the suppression OF race-track gam
bling q party Issue, he believes that his
party would be strengthened by identifca-
ton with a moral issue that viii never be
settled until It is settled right. Whether
the governor is justified in this belief viii
be determined By the course Of events.
His present attitude shines in splendid
contrast with that Of partisan leaders
who are trying TO make capital out of an
unholy alliance with gamblers.
The history OF anti-gambling legislation
In other States affords every reason for
conviction that in the matter Of political
advantage Gov. Hughes has the upper
hand Of his enemies. both in and out Of
his party. In every one of the contests
waged elsewhere against raee-traek gam
bling, the moral sense OF the community
has triumphed in the long run. Gov.
Folk faced defeat in his war On the gam
bling interests. but ne won out in the end
and notwithstanding his rigid stand for
public morals, he is more firmly in
trenched In the affections of the people
than ever.
"We have had several capital Ilustrations''-
Says the New York Evening Post
'of the way in which gambling alliances ruiz. in
stead Of saving. political party Missouri and Oaio
have given some useful teaching on this subject but
the great sehoolmistress is New Jersey.
About fifteen years ago that State was shaken
By the issue Of licensed gambling at race tracks.
The scandals Of the Gutenberg and other tracks
filed the air and led 70 a widespread moral agita-
tion- The Democratic party was then in power and
openly allied Itself with the gamblers. It's Yery
speaker Of the assembly known as starter at
the races The party bsazenly defed the decent sen
timent Of the State But the speedy result was
that TIE Democrats we're Overwhelmingly beaten.
They lost both houses o. the legislature and have
been in a pitiful minority ever since Other things
Contributed. no doubt TO their humiHating defeat.
but its first and most powerfIl cause was the fact
that they had unblushingly identified themselves
with the race track gamblers"
Gov. Hughes and his friends have no
cause for feeling downhearted. or for re-
lenting in a warfare which must go on to
final triumph. There is no defense in law
or in morals for race-track gambling. and
as a form of sport that is potent in the
pollution Of the community in the degra-
dation Of humanity and in its constant
menace to the business integrity Of its
devotees, it must inevitably give way to
the strong public opinion that has been
invoked against It. When the gambling
interests are forced TO come out in the
open and defend themselves before the
people, they are doomed to defeat, be-
cause they can offer no plea In mitigation
Of the unrighteOusness Of their calling
The strong sentiment aroused by Gov
Hughes against them IN a Commonwealth
long Gallons TO many public wrongs is
evidence that the popular conscience only
needs awakening under sincere leadership
to c.y out against the serious evils of
public gambling And no party can af-
ford to hout the moral sentiment of the
people 1t is not a winning game.