New Britain herald., 1925-02-26


 and the committee has had one au
 dience with Chief of Police Hart. l "At the April meeting the fact
 obtained from . canvass Of the citie
 of the state on the matter of gam
 bling was considered, This canvas
 showed that the standards of oul Connecticut cities, 50 far as law en
 forcement against gambling is con. cerned, is at rather low level. Oul own city perhaps measured up ts an average with others in the state Here. for instance, the police au. thorities do not move against game. of chance, and lotteries run off by churches or even by clubs, in one oi which at least lotteries running as high as $7,000 were disposed of. The canvass showed the need Of a great revival of public interest and educa- ton on this subject There is nc more excuse or ground for a. club or church to break the specific laws against gambling (which is gener- ally done under the guise that the purpose is good or harml ess) than there was or is for the Mormon church to assert polygamy as a re- llgious act, and expect to escape the laws of congress.
 "On this matter of gambling the committee was greatly pleased to see the police move against a certain vending machine with a gambling feature, after two lawyers had given the vendors a long labored opinion that the machines were not gam. bling devices, and after the city prosecutor had failed in one at- tempt to bring conviction. Over 100 machines were involved and were all ordered out of the city. The leagues opinion was that these ma- chimes should have been d destroyed and thus be prevented from being used again in other places for law breaking purposes.
 "On this subject of gambling the committee authorized the president to print 100 copies of the presidents last annual report which discussed quite fully the subject of gambling This was done and the copies were circulated throughout the city, in- cluding all pastors and most of the officials concerned. It was voted also that an opportunity be sought by the committee to present this matter to local minister's meet ing.
 Sunday Games At Memorial Park
 Tn November your committee re- ceived complaint that football games were being played in Memorial park. with admission charged, on Sunday afternoons, contrary to law. We thereupon protested in writing to the park board, the police board, the chief of police, and to the pro- motors of this sport These pro- tests appeared in the press and were seriously considered, at least in one meeting of the park board. One member of this board, indeed, had promised us year ago that a repe- tition of this violation would not be allowed. It developed, in the con- troversy, that the park board was actually accepting rent for this vio- lation and the police board was fur nishing policemen at so much per man. but notwithstanding this con- niving of city officials with law breakers, Mayor Paonessa thought that our communication ought to be scrapped. His second thought, how ever, was more sober one. for the corporation counsel advised him that our position was absolutely right and the mayors absolutely wrong. While this work on theSS Sabbath laws is serious one, it is not without its hu- morous tinge, as for instance when we read long drawn editorial in the New Britain Herald on the burden of these ancient blue laws, he editor being utterly obIivious to he fact apparently that he was about a modern up-to date aw passed as late as 1917. We do lot believe that the park board or he mayor will again subject Memo 'ial field to the stigma of being a 'endezvous for law breakers.
 During the year we mem orializ- d the league of nations. through he federal council of churc hes, in avor of the United States position, IS stated by our delegates. which is o limit the production of the opium poppy to the medical needs of the world. Our country, as we have ately seen, was not successful with | Is program. but great gain has been made in world opinion focused on he issue, as it has been. through he league of nations conference.
 1.-Two letters have been received turing the year from Chief Justice Teorge W. Wheeler of the Supreme Court, commenting the work of the eague and in appreciation of the support we were giving the bill, fa-