Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-03

Efforts in several States to revive lot
teries to provide public revenues arouse
the defenders of law, with the result
that . spirited debate is in progress.
1T may be doubted" thinks the
Buffalo Evening New, that the pro-
posals to capitalize gambling for gov
ernmental or other purposes. will be
widely adopted in America" That
paper remarks that 1T comes as some
what of a surprise that the lower
branch of the Massachusetts, legisla-
tive body has voted to report bill
establishing State lottery. The
Miami fla Herald observes that
New York and Illinois have plans
we'll on the way for public lotteries"
and that pennsylvania and New Jer-
sey lawmakers are p eparlng bills for
their Legislatures" The Herald. how
ever. contends that "it is hardly to be
believed that the sentiment OF the
country will approve reinstatement for
any length of time
1T would be a mistake in any State,
and especially in one whose influence
upon public opinion nationally Is ex-
ceptional." advises the Hartford Daily
Times, with the further argument: 1t
would not be worth while, on the
argument of public treasury needs 10
assail the public morals and go back
t. a policy which generations OF en-
lightment have beneficially abolished.
Retrogression would be spelled and
rot progress. We trust that the bet
ter discretion of the Massachusetts
LEGISLATURE will defeat the proposals OF
the House Committee. The postwar
period has brought decentralization
enough without adding governmental
sponsorship of gambling and the deg-
radiation of undertaking to trick thou-
sands of citizens out of their money
by the bait of lucrative chance for a
very small proportion OF the victims.
Gambling is an inherently vicious en-
terprise. The State ought not 10
sponsor 1t in any form"
1T is doubtful that the Legislature
will surrender to those who want 10
make gambling legal" in the judgment
of the Springfield (Masso Daily News
The st. Paul Pioneer Press recognizes
the appeal of the campaign for legal
ization, adding that there is some
thing about lottery which exerts a
strong ass appeal" but the Portland
(Me) Pre.s-Herald is skeptical OF the
success of the movement and con-
cludes: THE argument against legal
izing a lottery which will probably al
ways have great weight is that while
such a scheme may fatten the States
treasury it can only be done at the
cost of demoralizing the people. But
there are many who do not look upon
lotteries in this way and who think
that they should be legalized.'
mo country in the world" suggests
the Burlington Hawkeye Gazette, has
taken such a stand against this form
Of gambling as the United States. AS
q matter of fact, only in the united
States and Great Britain are lot
teries illegal, and in practically every
European country they are now be-
ing used either as a means OF rals-
ing funds for the public treasury or
for support of hospitals. for poor re-
lief or some other charitable pur-
pose. In this country the laws
against lotteries, games OF chance.
free gift enterprises are far more
severe than the public generally
realizes"
The New Brunswick IN. j. Daily
Home News AYERS that proponents
of lotteries are going too far" but
the Haverhill Gazette states: why
should this great business be oper-
ated without contributing anything
to government except the occasional
fines imposed on violators of laws
against lotteries? It Is q natural