The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-12-18
RACING IN CHARLESTON.

ton were q matter of purely local in
terest there would be little license for
the press outside of Charleston to in
terest itself greatly in the matter.
But it is not merely a question of To-
cal self.government for Charleston.
Behind the fight to establish a haven
for the "sport of kings" in the me-
tropolis OF the State lies an effort to
create conditions that are repugnant
to the best ideals of a G~od-fearing
and %law-abiding people. How intol-
cradle these conditions can become is
we'll seen when even the States Of
New York and of Louisiana which
have winked at so much of wicked
ness in their chief cities, were finally
forced to outlaw the game. State AT.
ter State has followed until there are
but few left in which the sport is al
lowed to flourish. In time South
Carolina will do likewise, but in the
meantime a we escape the penalty
of decentralization resulting from the
stimulus to the gambling spirit
among our own people, as we'll as the
contact with the vicious element
which the racing game naturally at
tracts? Such decentralization is MOI
going to be confined to Charleston.
but will permeate the entire State t.
SOME extent, because people from all
over the State are going to be attract
ed to the scene OF the sport 10 CRAFTY
the gamblers instinct.
Just how well the authorities OF
Charleston county may be expected
to enforce the anti-gambling feature
of the act passed at the last session OF
the legislature may be judged from
the. manner in which they have al
ways enforced some other laws.
The Yorkville Enquirer, in Il WELL
written article, appears quite pessi-
mistic rs to the probability Of the
suppression of this vice in the imme-
diate future, a view of the situation
we'll warranted under the circum-
stances.
The Enquirer relates some interest
ing things about a similar situation
in Columbia last winter of which the
writer has some knowledge. We
quote:
Have those people who knew about
it at the time, forgotten what hap
pened in Columbia last winter? As
rs it was known that the gam
blers intended to take charge Of the
city, a large portion of the state press
raised the alarm, and after the racing
was commenced, a we'll known Co.
lumbia newspaper man, Mr.. James
A. Hoyt, then editor of the Column
bia Record, undertook to get the mat
ter into the courts. He did begin
proceedings. But already the hotel
men, the cigar stands, the soft drink
people, the gambling joints, the street
car folks and others had gotten a
taste of what was in it, for them and
they soon made it so hot for Mr..
Hoyt that he had to let loose. AS it
happened he did not fully control the
paper he was editing, and the con-
trolling financial influence used the
means necessary to put him out of
business. He was virtually forced to
sell his holdings. The proceedings
he instituted went dilly-dally one
way and another and finally became
abOrtive. If MI. Hoythad been sup
ported, supported with earnestness
and vigor by influences. that are even
now raising a hue and cry against the
races the gambling horde would have
been put out of business. AS it was,
the matter went to the legislature,
which made a big show of virtue in
the consideration of the whole thing
but finally wound up by the passage
of an act which reads as if it were
horse-high, bull-strong;a and pig-tight:
but which is not worth a hill of blue
beans for the reason that there was
left out of it a special provision that
was intended to insure the execution
of the law by means of Injunction,
provided that should become neces-
sary as a last resort. Now, of course
there are those who will say that this
is, all humbug, and it is necessary to
explain a little further. AS. strong us
this anti -gambling law appears to be,
it was passed in the knowledge of the
fact that these racing people Intended
to abandon the idea Of further meets
in Columbia, unless conditions should
become more propitious, and that as
the local government of Charleston
is in full accord with the plans of the
racing crowd, there is no danger of
any really earnest effort to enforce the
law. If the i%njonction feature had
been left in, then as soon as the local
Charleston authorities had clearly
showed their hand, private individ-
uals down there, who thought other
wise, would be able to give trouble
by the same means that Mr.. Hoyt
had tried to employ, with results so
disastrous to himself in Columbia.
But, after all, you can't keep a good
man down, and Mr., Hoyt has proba-
bly, benefited financially by the
change. He is now president of
%fourishing bank in Columbia, which