The Nevada County picayune., 1921-11-03

l the evils which are inherent i'll these ! things which are so commonly prac- ] tjccd among us.
 refer especially to two forms of ifhs evil The first is the practice of
 gambling on athletic games such as baseball and football. It is quite true 1 that 1 have no personal knowledge of 1 these things could not go on the witness stand and testify to the prac- i tice of gambling, or to any specific in stance of gambling, and yet l have every reason To he morally convinced 1 that il is altogether a common thing
 for men to gamble on the result of these contests.
 In saying these things l would not | be understood aS holding the authOri ties of our schools responsible for this evil. Neither dc believe that the
 athletic teams have any connection with the practice, either collectively
 or individuality l cannot believe that any one of our fine boys who is a member of our splendid football team
 of which we are all proud. would dis honor himself or act in Slch violation of the ethics and spirit of tine game as
 to be in any way connected with the
 practice of gambling on the results.
 II is quite true that certain members of the now infamous and dishonorel
 White SoXa base ball team did be
 come aligned with those who were
 gambling on the results of the games but this has produced q national s,an-
 dal and has forever barred the men who took part in the disgraeeful pro-
 ceedng from participation in organ ized baseball.
 But, while the men who play are in
 no wise responsible for the betting which is carried on by the side lines. or elsewhere. yet 1t is extremely un-
 fortunate that this custom exists II does seem that while men who gamble have shown that they will take chances
 on almost every contingency under tn" sun. putting WagerS even on the flight
 of birds. that they would have enough respect for our public schools to re frain from this practice of betting on the results of those games which are played wholly in the interest of school l life and the development of school spirit If men are determined to risk their money in wagerS let them bet on 1 the price of cotton; the results of pro
 feSsional athletic events, or the shift
 ing of a pack of cards.
 The other custom of which 1 speak
 is that of raffling for articles of value.
 Of late we have had an epidemic of
 raftling for automobiles. If l may
 trust current reports. some three or four thousand dollars have been lost in Prescott within the past few months by this form of gambling. Now, l
 matter l wish to say with all possible
 emphasis that l have not one unkind
 word to say about anybody who is in any way connected with this matter.
 but must. if shall be true to myself, my people and my God, tell you of the
 evil of this thing and plead with you in ChriStS name to forSakc this evil. have not taken the pains to find
 out just who the gentlemen are who have promoted these schemes, neither have tried to learn just who have
 been numbered among the purchasers
 of the chances which are said to have been sold l am quite confident, how able and respected citizens, and l would not be surprised to learn that many of them are members of our
 churches. But, the personal charac- fer of the sinner cannot change the nature of the sin. By every standard of moral judgment gambling is both measure of social. civic OF ecclesiasti- cal responsibility on the part of the
 gambler can ever make il right In all
 kindness and with all possible good will to all parties concerned must say that aS citizen of Prescott l am
 heartily ashamed of these fragrant and mhmohing violations of the law which
 have gone on in spite of the published
 warning of our honored Circuit Judge
 that such practices were directly con
 trgiv tn law and thot uuilty nartieS