The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-01-26

4
Gilman. the Presbyterian missionary
for the Ely district, at the Presby-
terrain church ON Sunday evening,
wnen he took for his theme: The
Crime of Gambling" He read this
verse from the book OF Proverbs;
There is way which seemeth right
unto man. but the ends thereof
are the way of death.
In the course of his sermon, Mr.
Gilman said that there is not one re-
deeming feature about gambling. as
il is carried on by the professional
gambler Some respectable men
NAV engage i'm the business but
where the game is 'on the square
somebody else,s winning means some
body elses losing Gambling gives
nothing in return for what it receives.
The gambler contributes nothing to
i the welfare or wealth OF society. He
+ is consumer. and not a producer.
Were ne both consumer and a pro-
Queer he would be like other peo-
pie. and have his place in the world.
As il is. he is only a con-
sumner. having 40 place in the eco
nomic adjustment: one who disturbs
the trade relationships, who is foe
10 society and opposed TO the best
interests of the community. In order
that he may exist men become bank
rupt and go out of business, men
squander their wages, little children
must go without food and clothing.
the coal hin must remain empty
there must he hunger and tears and
homes made miserable.
If | had my way said Mr.. Gil
man. the gambler would go 10 work
like other people and | would make
it as severe for him for a while as
/ know how.
The meanest thug about the
gambler Is that he thrives on the
weaknesses of others. Gambling is
a weakness, passion. Il mania with
some persons. You remember. In the
Curiosity SHOP how the old
man and little Nell take their de-
parture from London and its sin, in
the hope that the old man may get
away from the gambling dens that
have played such havoc with his life.
They stop at a Wayside inn one night,
and The old mau hears the elink Of
coin, and the noise of the gaming
board in an adjoining room. The
old passion comes upon him, THAI
plight, thinking that this time he will
surely win. and In the morning he
will have plenty with which 10 meet
all their needs, he steals the purse of
Little Nell, as she lies asleep, and
when the morning dawns, the bit of
money that they had is gone-the
little that was theirs with which To
make their journey into the new life
together. There are a lot of people
JUST like the old character Dickens so
faithfully portrayed In the mad
passion for the gaming table, they
ignore the claims of God and man;
of every responsibility placed upon
them, aud because of their misera-
BILE weakness the gambler alone prof
its If had my way | would not
only put the gambler on the stone
pile. but also the man who makes
such a blind dupe or himself, and
causes his family thus 10 suffer
Mr.. Gilman presented arguments
and testimony to show that where
law had been enacted abolishing
gambling. II had met with good re-
suits.
For every crime there should be
law" he said. Gambling is
crime. For that reason law should
exist against it. If gambling is still
carried on where laws exist against
it. il is because the law Is not being
enforced. If the law is not being en-
forced. ii is because men sworn to
administer those laws are not doing
their duty: are not true TO their oath
OF Office. If men are not true TO their
oath of Office, it is because the peo-
pie have given their suffrage To un-
scrupulous individuals"
During the past week" said Mr..
Gilman. II have circulated an anti
gambling petition among the people
of this Town and at McGill. | am
glad that with but few exceptions,
the voters of these two communities
whom | have been GRABBED to see
have signed this petition. | am glad
that this little city has done this.
You are just now in the making, and
now is the time for the creating of
a public sentiment that is going TO
MAKE lot the moral, as well as the
material welfare OF this place Give
US railways, shops and smelters. Give
~ schools and churches. And in so
doing, give rs clean public con-
science. | rejoice. with an exceeding
great joy. that majority of the
electors in East Ely and at the
| smelter have expressed the opinion,
by signing this petition, that they do
moi want gambling in their midst. :"