Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-07-31

ducement to participate in such a I
scheme, or it may be an inequality in
value resulting from chance in the dis |
ltribution of money back to the con-
tributors; however slight that in there
can be no loss to the participants in
"a scheme does not prevent it from be-
| ing a lottery, where there might be
contingent gains
The proper test is whether there is
any inequality in the prizes or in the
standing of the persons among whom
they are distributed.
| would call your attention to the
fact that Congress has no power to
suppress the lottery as an institution;
that is left under the constitution to
the police powers of the several states.
In excluding lottery matter from the
mails, and fromniter- state commerce.
the Congress has gone as far as it can
go in assisting the states to stamp out
what is by common consent regarded
as most serious evil. Our state laws
concerning lotteries are ample and
specific. Not only is it a violation OF
the laws of Georgia for any person to
SELL offer for sale, or procure for, or
furnish to any person any ticket num-
Der, or chance, in any lottery or Sim
| liar scheme, or to- keep, maintain, carry
on, or operate lottery in the state,
but the advertisement of same in any
newspaper, or by the distribution OF
circulars, dodgers, signs, etc, is like
wise prohibited. Yet that law is being
violated with IMMUNITY in this state,
the only concern of the promoters of
such schemes appearing to be frantic
J desire to steer clear of the postal au-
thorities. Has it come to pass that we,
as native Georgians, rocked in the era
die of states rights, regard the federal
laws as more sacred than the statutes
of our native state? That the lottery is
morally wrong, that it is contrary to
public policy, that it is degrading IN
principle and demoraliZing in practice;
that it encourages the gambling spir-
it inherent in human nature, and ought
to be suppressed, is admitted by every
right thinking man or woman. Let me
urge YOU then, as moulders of public
opinion and as THE directing force OF
one of the mightiest agencies tor GOOD
or evil in all the world, to place your
objection to lottery advertisements ON
higher plane, and to reject them not
on the ground that it renders your pub
LEGATION unavailable, but for the reason
that you do not propose to encourage
or assist in encouragement of thing
that is wrong in principle and in vi
olation of the laws of your state. We
hear much today about the need OF law
enforcement. Let us have more OF law
observance on the part of those who
deem themselves respectable, laW-aD-
iding people and the question OF law
enforcement will solve itself in due and
proper time.
And now in conclusion let me again
thank you for your invitation to meet
with you on this delightful occasion
and to assure you of the readiness of
our department to serve you at any
and all times.
THE soldier may forget his sword,
The sailorman the sea,
The Mason may forget his word,
The Priest his Litany;
The maid may forget both jewel and
gem,
And the bride her wedding dress
But the Jew shall forget Jerusalem
Ere we forget the Press"
I thank you.