Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-07
Evils of Gambling Linked
With Lottery Prosecution

Comment on the announcement that
Federal laws now existing will be en-
forced to stop foreign lotteries active in
this country is devoted chiefly to the
evils OF gambling and the voicing of
approval Of the measures taken TO stop
1t. The universal app al OF gambling
is recognized however. and the suggeS
ton is made that the Government could
be of more service in SEEING that lot
teIies were honestly conducted than in
prohibiting them. The difficulties in
enforcing anti-lottery legislation are
also pointed out
Enactment OF the Federal anti-lot-
terry statutes, which forbid the use OF
the mails for circulating lottery adver-
tisements, was brought about by the old
Louisiana lottery by which the State
profited considerably" the Youngstown
Daily Vindicator explains. and eX-
presses the belief that when those who
patroniZe lotteries, which are pretty
largely carried on in Canada Mexico
end Ireland. and are fagrantly violating
the laws OF this country. find that they
are equally responsible for violations
and face pa ment of heavy fines and
imprisonment. less interest is likely TO
be shown in drawings and distributions"
The Low II Evening Leader finds on
the statute books ample legal authority
for dc ling with the situation, and says:
For example. the foreign lotteries in
volve an extensive use of the mails st
various stages >in the process. And in
the more strict enforcement of the laws
against the abuse of the postal privileges
the Government will have a strong
weapon against the promoters and their
agents in this country" The Leader
recognizes. however, "ona handicap
which it will face-the difficulty of rally
ing public support for any measures
that it may take. BY and large. the
people are disposed to look leniently
on such enterprises. There is some
thing of the gambling spirit in all of
US
The Jackson Citizen Patriot declares
that gambling leads to otfenseS of all
kinds pointing out particularly that
the tremendous profits in the opera
ton of gambling enterprises encourage
the operators to make the most tempt
ing offers in an effort to corrupt the
authorities charged with the enforce
ment Of the law" That paper con-
cludes, 1T is sinister racket all
the way through, and the Government
is justified in adopting the most drastic
measures to end its existence" The
Goshen Daily NeWS-I1meS ADDS Jnat
perhaps no form of decadence since
the war has been more evident than
the spread of gambling" which has
become almost mania with countless
millions in Europe and America" The
News-Times continues: THE most
spectacular type of gambling is the
racket known as sweepstakes usually
based on sporting events in foreign
countries. Such enterprises, according
to Solicitor Horace ]. Donnelly of the
Federal Department of Justice. are
mostly illegitimate and often deliberate
frauds. The sums handled are enor-
nous He tells of a British horse race
in which the subscriptions amounted to
Sl5.O00,O0 and $l0,000,000 wax dis
tributed as prizes, leaving $4,000, 00O
for expenses and profits. Aside IRON
, the moral and legal questions involved
in such a venture. that is too big a