Evening star., 1938-03-29
VIGOROUS ATTACK
MADE ON RACING
BILL AT HEARING
Church, Civic and School
Organizations Express
Firm Opposition.
LA ROE DENIES TRACK
WOULD AID BUSINESS
Fears an Influx of Gamblers,
Gangsters and Various
Types of Parasites.

Church, civic and school organiza-
tions united today in vigorously op-
posing legalized race track gambling in
the District at the second of series
of public hearings on the Sacks racing
bill before the Judiciary Subcommittee
Of the House District Committee.
The severest indictment of the bill
came from Wilbur A. La Roe, jr.,
chairman of the Committee on Civic
Affairs of the Washington Federation
Of Churches, which, he said, repre-
sented. 139 Protestant churches in
Washington and vicinity, with a men,
bership of 10000 persons.
Arguments Answered.
Mr.. La Roe denied the arguments
OF the bills proponents that race
track would benefit business in Wash
ington and not attract an undesirable
class, and declared:
I'VE are opposed to this bill for the
following reasons:
Il. History shows that a race track
brings with it a train of evils, includ-
ing an influx of gamblers, gangsters
and various types of parasites.
20. Washington is rapidly becoming
the most beautiful Capital City of the
world and it should not become a
mecca for the gambling fraternity.
Fight on Gamblers.
''3 The local authorities have been
for several years waging determined
and successful fight against gamblers,
which fight has been successful except
as to the numbers racket, and a bill
to provide better control of the num-
bers racket has passed the Senate
and yesterday passed the House.
a. This bill is morally distinct
step backward.
IS. While this proposition has been
sugar coated with a thin veneer Of
pretended respectability, the bill con-
tains within its language no assurance
as to the nature of the operators, or
any safeguards against the numerous
evils that surround race tracks"
Editorials Read.
Mr.. La Roe read a number of edi-
torials from The Evening Star recit-
ing the evils of race track gambling
when it fiourishef in Washington, and
pointed out the city has had plenty OF
experience with horse racing. In 1890,
he said, the old Benning track was in
full operation, surrounded by a per-
fectly terrible atmosphere
The conditions cited, Mr.. La Roe
declared, are conclusive proof that
race track cannot exist without gam
bling and lit also proves that the main
object of the proposed bill is not to
authorize horse racing, but to legalize
gambling"
Instead of bringing money to
washington" he declared, this legis-
lation would divert literally millions
OF dollars from our merchants to the
pockets of the gambler.
The proponents of this measure are
behind it, not because they enjoy a
horse race, but because they want
some of the profits of pari-mutuel
gambling"
In the midst of the hearing, Repre-
sentative Bates, Republican, of Mas
sachusetts, who led the fight which
resulted in the death of the former
racing bill at the last session of Con-
gress. announced he proposed to do
the same thing this year. He is q
member of the District Committee.
Inlay Joins Protest.
Charles v. INLAY, representing the
Woodrow Wilson Home and School
Association. joined Mr.. La Roe in his
protest and said establishment of a
racetrack would set up a distraction
which would be injurious to boys and
girls who might experiment with it.
Conditions which existed in Wash
ington during operation of the old
Benning track were described by Evan
H. Tucker, veteran president of the
Northeast Washington iCtizens' Asso-
citation. He claimed racetrack gam
bling disrupts morals and destroys
ordinary family life.
"1've seen family ties destroyed by
It," he declared. Husbands have come
home from racetrackS tanked up with
liquor and their money gone"
w. ]. Tucker, representing the
Anacostia Citizens Association, told
the subcommittee legalized racing
would place temptation in the path
of people who might not otherwise
yield.
I'VE pray to God to lead us from
temptation" he said, but here we are
deliberately planning to place tempta-
ton in the face of those who are
weak
L. A. Carruthers. president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
opposed the bill on the ground legal
lied gambling is economically un-
sound. Opposition also was registered
by Paul NJ Williams of the District
Christian Endeavor Union.