The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-06-07
RINeo

5lNoo
Dear Sir:
Have noted in a recent issue Of
the Press, comments Oh the sane
tioning of gambling games by
church organizations, and that you
invite comment Have been wait
ing eXpectantly for food Of COM
ment. However, if anything has
appeared | have not observed il.
| am, therefore Offering a few
belated thoughts on the subject.
Gambling. or games of chance,
may be- in many instances. mere
ly an occasional and unimportant
diversion introducing a very fun
damental natural emotion-the ele-
ment of surprise, the mystery OF
the unknown Most fiction en-
ployes this element OF surprise eff
fectively. There is a decided tend.
ency among minds Of a certain
type TO center to these emotions
by an artificial stimulation, which
finds its form in gambling. Not
only the thrill of surprise, but the
desire for material rewards with
out any arduOus effort, is also,
more or less, a human emotion.
With many people it becomes a
mania. one who has watched the
faces OF the habitual gamblers real.
!ze that l. IS not = diversion but
a serious and tragic matter and a
far greater tragedy to their de-
pendents. The great bulk OF gam
bling is Cummerciaiized by shrewd
and crafty persons who are aware
of the strong hold that this in
stinct has on many people. | have
known many working men who
gambled over long term of years,
setting aside a good part of each
weeks pay for this purpose
have not known one of these
gamblers who kept books or had
the slightest idea over the years
how much he had paid in and how
much he had taken out.
II is well known, however. that
the gambling promoter retains a
very large portion of the moneys
received, anywhere from 1870 to
300. The gambler may make one
bet and win, but if he CANDLES
long enough TO strike an average.
as nearly all OF them do, he will
come very close to receiving back
the percentage allowed by the pro-
moter If the gambler would simp-
ly go to the promoter and say,
Here is my $40 weeks wages.
give me back $50 OF it, he would
make a very shreWd deal
There are three entirely we'll
known distinctive types OF tran
saction between individuals
% The freewill gift, in which
the donor expects no return. eX-
cepting the satisfaction Of doing
a kind deed, or the gratitude OF the
recipient This type of transac-
ton is presumed to manifest the
high ideal set forth by the various
religious organizations.
C2) The transaction in which
there il an exchange of goods
based in a fair exchange OF values
which Is recognized by law. An
exchange in which there was not
a reasonable consideration would
not be a valid transaction in the
eyes of the law II one were to
sell his house and lot for $40 he
could go into court and the sale
would be set aside
(3l The gambling transaction
in which one profits only by an
others loss \ gambling debt is
not a valid obligation, and can
not be collected by court action.
1t is in the eyes of the law an
immoral transaction.
There is still another type OF
transaction. in which one person
takes the property of another,
without his knowledge or consent.
II is often an easy step from one
to the other The effect upon the
loser is the same. Surety COM
panies will not furnish bond for
person known to be addicted to
gambling.
The organization processing to
he interested fundamentally in the
welfare of the community must
consider not alone the individual
and immediate effects of any &C.
ton on the participants, but its
general effect upon the public at
large. Gambling Is forbidden by
law and the law does not specify
the purpose o. type of individuals
who engage in il. In times past,
municipalities, state, and national
governments have taken revenues
from gambling concessions. II has
in every case proven unsatisfac-
tory and disastrous to the govern
ments involved. II has always re-
suited in lawlessness and dishones-
ty among public officials and in