Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-14
War Bonds
Chief Prizes
In Lotteries
Plan Looked On With
Favor by Employers
BY DAMON RUNYON

one OF the DIG ShlpyardS out
here, as | am informed, weekly
lottery is operated by some of
the men with considerable sue
cess. The prize is $500 De-
Tense Bond and the chances are
sold for 81 each but no idea OF
private profit is involved.
The number of the tickets is
limited To $50 for each drawing.
The bond costs $377.50 and all
over that sum taken i'm is gwen
10 the USO or To some other
organization on a rotated list of
war relief agencies. Every draw
ing is sellout. The officials
of the company know OF the
lottery and. / am told, look on
il with favor.
l have heard that in Wash
ingtcn, u. c., simple form Of
lottery known as a rattle also
involving war bonds as prizes is
held at regular intervals among
government office workers and
there is no doubt that many
similar drawings are taking
place in offices and plants else
where throughout the land and
even in churches.
4 s IN case of the shipyardS
"A lottery here, some of the
drawings are for charity or
cause connected with war work.
But there is evidence at hand
to indicate that quite number
are for the benefit of the oper-
ators, with war bonds being
used for prizes as more or less
of cover for the undoubtedly
illegal phases of these opera
tionS.
The fact that a lottery is for
the benefit of charity makes II
none the less illegal. as was
demonstrated in New York a
couple of years ago when some
high-claSS folks tried 10 run
sweepstakes for worthy cause
and got themselves in a peck OF
trouble.
The postal and other govern
ment officials are probably
aware Of the present widespread
nature OF the lottery enterprises
with bonds As prizes but are
paying no attention TO the mat
ter. which encourages my hope
that hostility TO my idea of
federal lottery may be abating
in Washington.
The lottery. If conducted by
the government with a minimum
Of expense. would raise $3.50
100000 per year, conservative
estimate, which ! think should
be devoted TO army and navy
relief to eliminate the passing
of-the-hat method that is now
being employed 10 raise funds
for this purpose.
Otherwise, the government
should include the relief in regu-
lar appropriations. The relief
ItlOIitlll viii NObll w lilDllulilfil-
tai and il will never be possible
TO raise all the money required
for the work through collections.
Nor, IN my opinion. should this
relief be made dependent upon
the generosity of an already
considerably burdened public
when an easy solution Is at
hand
IF LOTTERY was an expert
Il ment in this country, and
nothing of the kind existed here.
| would heartily disapprove OF
any government ventures in that
field. but the truth is the Amer
lean public j. throwing billions
OF dollars yearly into lottery in
one form and another legally
and Illegally
The legallzed pari-mutuclS bet
ting on horse racing that pre-
walls IN many states Is Strik-
Inc example.
The states and eventually the
government takes a piece OF the
profits on this betting.
But throughout the country
there is illegal lottery from
which only the operators profit
and which in many cases is
sheer Swindle-the u m b erS
game and boleta, the sweep
stakes enterprises which | have
previously revealed in the col
umn. and the numerous Club
drawings for cash prizes which
are carried on in various cities
come under the head of Illegal
ity if not Swindle.
1t is incredible that in such
cities the authorities have no
knowledge of these operations.
as they are attended by more or
less publicity, word-of-mouth. or
otherwise.
You can draw your own infer
Cncc from the probable knowl-
edge and the continuance Of the
operations. Personally, ! think
il is a good thing for some Of
those authorities that they have
no Tom DewcyS in their midst.
Copyright. 1912 by King Features
Distributed by King Features synd.. Inc.
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