"The Logic of the Ban"

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 16, 1 November 1929, Page 8

"The Logic of the Ban"

Race Meeting Broadcasts EADERS will remember that the reason given for banning descriptions of race meetings over the air was that it encouraged betting. It was pointed out in rebuttal at that time that, if the suppression of betting was what was desired, the ban should extend further to. newspapers and apply to race news. © This is the position that is developing in America in at least one State. The District Attorney for the District of Columbia, charged with the responsibility of suppressing gambling in that State, wrote to the newspapers of Washington and other centres asking ‘that they cease publishing certain treasury balances and clearing-house figures, on the totals of which gambling had become the prevalent practice, and also to cease publishing the results of race meetings, more, particularly those not legalised. He pointed out that he was "engaged in a desperate effort to vid the nation’s capital of gambling," and asked for the co-operation of the Press to that end. He wrote further: "In my experience gained in an earnest -endeavour to cope with this evil, I have come to the conclusion that the newspapers of this city, unwittingly of course, are encouraging violations of the gambling laws by printing and publishing (in some cases in quite promjnent portions of their newspapers) racing entries, results, and wmiscelJaneous information concerning horse racing, which publications are bound to encourage the residents of the district to patronise the bookmakers who are engaged in that line in the city." Several of the newspapers agreed to comply with the request of the District Attorney, but others declined to do so. Some of the papers that declined to comply adopted the attitude that the publication of the race results and banking figures were not as damning as they were represented.