The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-06-19
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
THE GAMBLING MENACE is A REAL ONE

| You NAV be as surprised we were to know
that the gambling business, a real menace, is one
| Of the biggest businesses in the United States
| Writing in The Chattanooga News, Quentin
Gore gives the figures to prove that more money is
spent in the gambling business than in any-other
The total amounts to over $6,600,0OO,OOO year
This enormous sum is expended annually In
.nlants" ranging from the magnificent steel-and-
concrete horse-racing stadia to shady backrooms,
or around-the-corner dives. Millions of people
stampede to pour their money into the pockets OF
the sure-thing boys. .'
Mr.. Gore says that in addition to It's unprece-
denied income, the gambling industry is unique in
other ways 1t doesn't have to advertise. The IN
stinct to win something for nothing attracts the
customers.
"1t is controlled by the crookedest of men," he
saws. most of them former convicts. Yet suckers
flock to their establishments while reputable ous-
ness houses go wanting for trade.
mo regulation plaques the gambling industry.
MANY branches such as pari-mutuel betting at the
races have been egaized in an effort to place the
racket under some effective control But, for every
localized pari-mutual machine, literally hundreds
If illicit Joints exis:, where racketeers carry on
their shady dealings. ...
at is the only industry in the world from which
a profit is always assured 1t is on strictly cash
basis. 1t knows dull season; it runs full blast
twelve months of the year. Its operators invest
virtually nothing and get the largest return on
their money of any business in the memory OF
man. Which is another way of saying that its Gus
toners get the least return for their money.
..It is legitimate business biggest competitor;
vet il has to face no counter-attack from respecta
Bile business men. .... ID. .:.-. ......
"Annually it withdraws from legitimate chan
neIs of trade $4,000, 100000, a sum which would
pay off this years national debt and the veterans
bonus to boot. . ,....
"six billion six hundred million dollars that
might have been spent for consumers goods, CLOTH
ing shoes food and other necessities annually pass
into the hands of closely controlled gambling syn
dictates. Billions that might have been used to pay
rents, taxes and installment accounts burn the
nockats of men. MANY of whom ought to be in
prison.
"Perhaps this tremendous loss to reputable COM
merce can best be realized through few statistics
Bureau of Census figures for the year 1881
when the bottom of the depression had not yet
been reached show that the nations largest indus
try, from the standpoint of gross income, was the
wholesale meat packing industry which took IN
81, 1sOs23, 900. Manufacturers of motor vehicles
came second with 1885,, $4,000 Petroleum re-
fners were third with 81 1924, ,OOO Newspaper
and periodical printing was next with S1,4O8,24S-
600.
'None of these vast industries can hold candle
to the gambling racket with its annual take of
Sc 600 0OO. 900. little addition reveals that the
combined incomes of these four leading industries
total $50 1872 OOO only slightly greater than the
estimated annual yield of the gambling racketeers'
Rock Hill, S. c., Herald.