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A CANADIAN WRITERS SENSIBLE VIEWS. An American writer points out how close we eonn to hypocrisy in dealing with horse-race betting. Bo sa.s there was more money bet on the presidential election of 1912 thaa in any. one year on all the race tracks in America. The newspapers quote the odds in every city day by day. N i* seems to think it mi ml. Nor does iids writer believe u was immoral laying down the general principle that wagers are law declared immorality." There is something in this criticism. Here in Canada we have much the same form of hypocrisy, or lack ol clear thinking, on the betting question. We do not raise a cry against belling on elections, on hockey matches, football matches or auv other national amusement, but we have made all sorts of laws to limit race track belting. Our conduct does not teem wholly consistent. Prize fighting and "glove" contests are more immoral in their tendencies than horse racing, vei betting OB them MM no man under a social or legal ban. I ihink the state should control the betting and tin- liquor traffic. I would legalize and regulate both forms of .iniuseiii.nl or Indulgence. Not manr people will agree with me. perhaps but I think that on the whole this would he the host method of eliminating the undesirable features of these two "aurieal and honorable" customs. But. above all. let us avoid hvpnerisv in regard to betting. There are features of gambling which must be suppressed for the safety of the weaker ami i" ignorant brother. At the si time dont das, n man as Immoral who bets in a gentlemanly Way al a race track, unless ,,|| sre willing to declare that betting on sa election .r a football match is ilan immoral. Canadian Courier.
