Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1885 — Seems to Think They are all Gambling. [ARTICLE]

Seems to Think They are all Gambling.

Ebixoß Republican We were invited a short time since to take part in a little game of chance called raffling. We were asked to contribute a small sum of money and by so doing we would be entitled to one chance amone two or three hundred probably of securing a valuable prize, but we shall decline the invitation not only on the occasion referred to, but on all others of similar import. We have been invited in our time to take part in a little game of chance called poker, we were invited to put a cent, dime or dollar or whatever other larger sum our purse might warrant into, what in gamblers parlance is called the “pot”, and thereby secure a chance of winning the whole pot containing sometimes several dollars. We have been contemplating this matter seriously for the purpose ot discovering the difference between the two games and wo think we have accomplished our purpose. The first game is played at church fairs for the purpose of forwarding the glory of God, and is played at Public Halls and at churches with innocent looking little tickets. The second game is played to further the glory of man with those wicked detestable things called cards, not in Public Halls and churches but in gamblers Hells. The one is played by vicious wicxed, looking men; the other by modest Christian men and women, who would shudder with horror, should they unawares, discover clustered around a table with a pile of bills on each corner four grim, solemn, wicked looking monsters playing at their little game of chance, with cards and a pot full of shining silver in the center for, a chance of drawing which each man had just put in a dollar and was just drawing his lucky or ,unlucky cards. B olh are played for the same purpose i. e. securing a valuable prize fpr a very inadequate consideration. Both are identical in principal and differ only in the mode of procedure and social standing of parties concerned. Both are equally wrong. Both equally punishable by tne laws of this State, not only* the vendors of tickets are amenable to the penal laws but likewise those who assist this charitable or private game of popular poker by purchasing them. After mature deliberation we have come to the conclusion we will be law abiding and if we participate at all would prefer a game of genuine Draw poker where we have some show of occasionally winning a pot. Anti- Gambler.