p. 8 | RACE-TRACK GAMBLING by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 19, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 20.

RACE-TRACK GAMBLING.

By T.

Recently the receipts of a special day at the Oakland, Cal., race-track gates were given to a popular charitable institution in this city. E. R. Dille, D.D., pastor of the First M. E. Church, Oakland, speaking in regard to the matter on Sunday evening, May 8, said:—

“I am sure that I need advance no argument to-night to prove that gambling is a vice that is doing more to destroy our young men in California than any other, with a single exception—the drink habit; and that the worst form of gambling to-day is that connected with the race-tracks and pool-rooms. Betting is the soul of horse-racing, and a thievish desire to get money without earning it is the soul of betting. . . .

“The truth is that vice in all its forms—drunkenness, lying, cheating, stealing—are inseparable adjuncts of the race-course. Human birds of prey flock to it from under the whole heaven, and gorge themselves to the full. Hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in the race-tracks of this country and the gambling enterprises connected therewith. . . .

“Why, at some of the great race-courses, the starters and judges receive larger salaries than do the judges of our State Supreme Court. The book-makers at the tracks pay the racing associations $100 a day, and the telegraph and telephone companies pay $1,500 a day for the privilege of sending news from the track to the pool-rooms all over the country.

“Now, as a crime breeder, I unhesitatingly affirm that race-track gambling, in and out of pool-rooms, is the worst gambling evil in the land.

“The Louisiana lottery, with all its ramifications, its vast wealth and power, constituted no such menace to the public morality, no such source of private and political corruption, no such burden upon the commercial prosperity of the country, as does the racing interest. . . .

“But, according to the New York Times, the enormous sum of $2,898,372 was stolen in one year with which to play the races, to say nothing of the honest money wagered. It is estimated that $200,000,000 is staked annually and lost upon them.”

This is certainly a very severe arraigning of the race-track profession; and who will say that Mr. Dille has made his statements too strong? Indeed, is it possible, with all the facts in mind in regard to the evils of racing, to make the charges against it too extravagant?

The wickedness that the inspired Word tells us is to make the “last days” “perilous” is being greatly augmented by the combined evils of the races and gambling. From whatever side this world is viewed to-day the picture is only dark. But when these dark things are seen in the light of the Word of God, they clearly appear as signs of the approaching end of time. And only from that standpoint do we see gleams of light. If our hearts are made sad by the evils of this time, we should look to the Life-giver. His coming is near. T.