The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-05-08
NEWSPAPERS OPINION
THE EFFECTS OF RACE TRACKS

i We have heard talk of licensing horse racing IN
South Carolina Florida fell for the bait several
wears ago and the race tracks-dog and morse
have drawn many visitors to that state. II sts''e
or CITY is not particular about the KIND OF Vsltors
it attracts racing makes its appeal though IL mas
been called the underworld sport" because OF the
class that largely patrOnizes the tracks
Last wear Rhode Island egalzed racing, George
E. Pelletier of the editorial staff of the Providence
Journal, recently made survey of the results Oh
the first year of racing in his state. He admits th@C
it has increased state income and furnished enter
tanment for the crowds that go to the tracks. But
in an article written for the Springfield (Mass) Re
publican, Mr.. Pelletier says:
Rhode Island turned to gambling last year and
the effect retail sales and bank accounts is re-
ported to have been disastrous, although definite
figures cannot be obtained. Savings accounts III
Providence and Pawtucket banks were wiped out
by the score and there were common complaints Ill
both cities that it impossible to do business
while the horses are here
"This writer heard more than one business man
heave hearty thanks when the last season was over
'sYet public protests against horse racing were
few largely due to the baronial setup of Rhode
Island where high society, idly wallowing in riches
on the one hand, and a working class which is al
most ueasantry on the other hand, both, for diff
ferent reasons see an emotional outlet in watching
'em run The horse-racing process in such state
setup as this is merely question of giving the
people circus to make them forget the ills which
beSet them.
Whatever may be the economic or moral effect
of the track seems of little consequence to those III
power so long as the people are kept amused. AS
result, workers often gamble their last dollar IN
the hope of strike and, if they lose the welfare
rolls are always open.
'Those who have profted most frc~r the Maria
gansett track to date have been the politicians, %
whom the track offers jobs for themselves rela
tives during the summer off season.; the liqucr
dealers, to whose emporia go winners and losers
after the days play, the to spend their Win
nings and the other to drown their sorrows and
disappointments and the sly and cunning gentry
once known as bootleggers, who, with the coming
of repeal have turned their talents to toutng in
divdua horses and parleys' loyal agents of bet
ting syndcates which flourish openly in defiance
of law
In South Carolina we have "high society, idly
walowing in riches but we have the working class
and others of moderate income We have merchants
trying to recover from depression by the increase
of trade The race track in this state would injure
all classes of citizens and doubt would interfere
with trade and cause deposits in savings banks 20
shrink as in Rhode Island. Racing in this state
could not thrive on local patronage and efforts
would be made to bring in the riffraff that floats
from one track to another as the seasons open and
Spartanburg Herald.