OCR Text |
Show iff ar iff & ' Published Every Saturday BY GOODWINS WEEKLY PUBLISHING CO., INC. A. W. RAYBOULD, Business Manager GALLAGHER, Editor. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: lyt: .M 5C Inquding postage in the United States, Canada and Mexico, $2.50 per year, ill JO for six months. Subscriptions to all foreign countries, within the Postal 1014.50 per year. 7:21s , Single copies, 10 cents. Payments should be made by Check, Money Order or Registered Letter, payable to The Citizen. Address all communications to The Citizen. Entered as second-clas- s matter, June 21, 1919, at the Postoffice at 8alt Lake of Act under March 3, 1879. the Utah, City, 3 Phone Wasatch 5409. Ness Bldg. Salt Lake City, Utah. i i I, i 311-12-1- iaT ...s f 'M sf POLICE PUNISH CL UBS A T EDICT OF GAMBLERS I ade targets of public censure because of their failure to cope he rising tide of crime, the city commissioners and the police ities prohibited cards games in the leading clubs of the city, name of law and order they banned games at the Commercial, ;Ait$f:University, Elks, Eagles, Moose, Ladies Literary Club and 4theifcivic and social clubs. No one could satirize them as they have satirized themselves. Jy their edict they trumpted their failure and sounded ridiculous movement? I believe you will agree with us that in so doing the moral effect will be great. It was the. unusual amount of crime which impelled the commissioner to close the gambling dens temporarily because these dens are always frequented by criminals. And because it was necessary to close the gambling dens the commissioner stopped card playing at the clubs. In other words, because the gamblers were compelled to close their places against criminals for a brief period, the respectable Retreat. clubs were compelled to stop all card playing. Because the gamblers At first the action of the police was a riddle, but the riddle was were being disciplined it was necessary, according to the police view, Partly solved when the city commission, under pressure from the busito punish the respectable business men. ness men, was compelled to nullify the order of Commissioner Barnes, Not until the carnival of crime had culminated in the murder of order the effort of the mayor to picture the police commissioners a policeman was any attempt made to close the dens to which the U one with a moral purpose could not hide the fact that Barnes criminal element resorted. And when they found themselves comin own interview, ad acted at the dictation of the gamblers. His pelled by public sentiment to close the gambling houses and other The him. which he seeks to put his action in the best light, betrays disorderly places the commissioners and police began to fix fetters on dens sards clubs to which he alludes are simply gambling operated the leading clubs as if criminals were accustomed to seek recreation professionals. at the University Club or the Ladies Literary Club. from Commissioner said Barnes, fcThere came complaint then, Some years ago the commissioner framed an ordinance grantBO&ie of the men at the head of these card clubs, who argued they card clubs. These were simply pering licenses to jshdttld not be forced to close their places while card playing was mits for gambling dens. Gambling houses and all gambling games make To the in clubs established city. jitfiitted at various well and devices arc illegal. They violate state statutes that make them a all 1 the to a clubs, letter addressed asking (enforcement easier then and punishable by fine and imprisonment. The card licenses felony Stheift would if stop that and saying temporarily they arc simply permits to violate the law and to violate it in the manner and assist of be would effect icardgames the moral which prevails in the gambling dens where game is unall other jusin enforcing the law at places. known. In those dens the owners, dealers and their confederates would willingly of clubs the .Several responded they conduct games that always arc crooked. It is, in a word, robbery with us in every way possible, and we have appreciated their assistlicensed by the city commission. ance. The moral effect has been excellent. It was, of course, underNever was there shadow of excuse or legality for the permit. stood the arrangement was purely temporary and caused by the It was an attempt to nullify the state law. Big gambling halls like crime. of amount unusual the created ,emergency by Main street and Vincents on Second South near State The letter sent out by Commission Barnes to the various clubs Bernsteins on street were given licenses for card games and have been robbing vic.was as follows: m tims for years. At Bernsteins another form of gambling, equally a card all close games I to order of the No doubt you are aware e pool seller and has been conducted. Bernstein is an felony, ordinance closing an commission .the city, also that the city passed has been selling pools on races at his gambling hall. enforced. arc being poolhalls at 11 p. m.. both of which walks Instead of abiding by provisions of Sections 8161 and 8162 against We arc confronted with a question from people in all licenses pool selling and gambling the city authorities have granted of life : the to crooked gamblers under the pretext of a legal city ordinance. The in clubs running mens business What about the many ordinance is as illegal as robbery itself and virtually it authorizes :ity? of licenses to commit robbery. in the enforcing interested are We take it for granted you Not only do the statutes forbid gambling and provide punishthere-or- e aw.'and order and willing to assist us to that end. Can we not to arrest and punish of your icartj ments but they make it possible for the police the department expect an early reply assuring as owner or renter, allows gambling in his building. who, anyone in t ic will genera club join in the matter, and that your -- ) J ! I S :: f '! .i so-call- ed I', t- - co-operat- ion -- great-importan- ce an-lionc- co-oper- st ate I t i i i x . i old-tim- i , 1 i i ; 'V |