The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-04-07
RAcETRACk GAMBLING IN TEXAS

Moreover, the bill to vitalize horse racing has
vitalized bookmakng also, and chorus of public
disapprova against these pernicious gambling dens
is reverberating and gaining in volume throughout
the state. Despite its unquestonable illegality,
bookmaking flourishes, and, because of confusing
technicaties in the law enforcement officers have
been practically helpless in efforts to extermnate
it. In more than one case, for instance, officers
have raided bookmaking establishment and closed
it, only to return less than Is minutes later TO find
business flourshing as usual. AS matter of fact.
bookies in Dallas have not been menaccd by the
law so much lately as by a lone bandit who occa-
sionally holds up bookie joints and then removes
vital articles of apparel from his victims persons
to prevent pursuit.
But the principal arguments to be directed
against race track gambling, it seems to me, are
economic rather than moral in nature. Millions of
dollars have been diverted from legitimate bust
ness channels, and much of that sum has migrated
permanently to other racing centers throughout
the country The third annual report of the Texas
Racing Commission recently showed that during
the past three years there has been wagered
through pari-mutuel windows the stupendous sum
of POI 1853, and to this figure should be added
the manifold millions more which were bet in hun
dreds of bookie shops and on which no taxes were
paid Because of state taxation of pari-mutue bet
ting many believe this to be substantial source
of revenue, but the amount the state receives Is
doubtless a pittance compared with that which
goes into the pockets of professional gamblers. In
anv event if horse racing is evil, the taxation
of it does not justify its existence, and Governor
Alfred has even gone further to declare that lit is
automatic that taxation of immortality and wee IS
the resort of a weak government
hltN,r nm
conditions in the cities in which races are run can
be illustrated by QUESTIONABLE distributed by the
Texas Retail Dry Goods Association in June, 1884,
when the pari-mutuel law had been in existence
only wear. The majority of 10000 retail mer-
chants who replied to the QUESTIONABLE agreed
that horse racing had proved a hndrance to bust
ness. Many gave specific examples OF how business
not only fell off during the racing season but bills
went unpaid for months during and Immediately
following the season. The money which ordinarily
would have been spent in legitimate business chan
nels was wagered at the tracks, and much OF that
which was wagered was pocketed by gamblers who
then transferred their operations to other parts of
the country
The severest indictment against race track gam
bling. however is supplied not by the arguments
of it's opponents but actually by the Righteousness
is scarcely an argument propounded by its propon-
ents that does not suggest its own ehectVe answer
We hear for instance, that track owners have MADE
heavy investments in race tracks which would DC
DESTROYED by repeal of the present law, put there
are statistics available which conclusvely show that
every investment has long since been hquloa'eu
and Welded substantial profit. Then, too, 1t Is ar
pued that horse racing is not gambling device
but thrilling SPORT but in reply it is only neces
sary 70 point out that there has never been law
against horse racing in Texas, and when this thrill
ING snort can flourish only when gambling Is per-
mitted and die abruptly when gambling is prohlD-
i,ed il stands indicted as something else than a
mere sport The further argument that enactment
of the law would stimulate the breeding OF me
horses and Jacks has not been substantated TO any
appreciable degree during the past few years Ana
another argument that repeal of the law after only
four wears of trial would be manifestation OF
chad faith" merely calls to mind the spurious tao
Tics employed by those sponsors of the law IN ma
nipulating il through the Legislature after 1t hao
been defeated on its own merits.
Race track gambling doubtless does not emooay
all of the pernicous evils that its opponents ascroe
70 Il hut it is reasonable to believe that 1t has re-
shifted in more harm than good to the state and
opyht 70 be repealed This conclusion has been
reached with some regret even by many sportsmen;
but as The Weekly declared in an article pub
lished two years ago. those VINO thrii a' inc Ssm'
of tboroughbreds driving forward to victory with
fine competitive spirit will regret that TINS Spor.
of kings must be sacrificed by the cupid'ty Oh men,
Texas Weekly. .-
GETTING RESULTS