Judge, 1906-05-19 · page 1 of 16
Judge — May 19, 1906 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This editorial cartoon criticizes New York State's tolerance of race-track gambling under the guise of agricultural fairs. The central figure (likely Governor Joseph B. Odell or another state official) is depicted surrounded by grotesque caricatures representing corrupt influence—including what appears to be gamblers and manipulative interests. Documents labeled "LEGALIZE," "INFLUENCE," and "AGRICULTURAL FAIRS" litter the scene. The caption "THE DISGRACE OF NEW YORK STATE MUST STOP!" explicitly condemns the state's hypocrisy: while constitutionally prohibiting gambling, authorities permit race-track betting by disguising it as agricultural activity. The editorial argues this contradiction undermines law and morality, and that the state should either enforce its prohibition or stop the charade of moral authority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Jevors PLATFORM: “LEAVE WELL ENovGH ALONE.” VOL. 50 NO.1283 PRICE, SCENTS AAP o ° ©) a Ss a ‘COPYRIONT I9OGBY JUDGE COMPANY PUBLISHERS, 226 FOURTH AVE. EW YORK ‘THE DISGRACE OF NEW YORK STATE MUST STOP! Govgaxox Hicors— The present law makes gambling on horse-races outside of the tracks. . . . punishable by imprisonment, while the same act, if committed on such race-grounds, is not a crime at all... - Phe toleration by our people of this evasion of the constitational prohibition against gambling is due in large measure to the method of distributing this tax. 1 feel that the state could better afford to make direct appropriations to support the agricultural societies than to perpetuate race-track gambling by increasing or continuing the revenues derived by the agricultural societies therefrom." —Z-tract from veto of racing-tax bill by the governor of New York, comicbooks.com