The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-05-10

council. c are not ut oil surprised. Tn,
editors OF that sheet differ as widely from
us IN moral as in political sentiments. Wha
our principles impel US to condemn, Their
procllvifies incline them to approve hence
upon oil moral questions where we differ
from our political friends, they may count
with great certainty upon the support Of tn,
Times.
we stated very briefly but very clearly tn,
grounds of our disapproval of the action Of
the Council in our notice of the transaction
and will only particularize our objections q
little more fully in reply to the ar
tlcle.in the Times. We need not take the
trouble to correct the carping misrepresenta.
ton OF our remarks, or repel theimputations
of our cotemporary.
Bowling Alleys and Billiard Tables, in the
opinion Of the Times, and perhaps in that
of a majority of the Council, are praise
worthy institutions, entitled to public en-
enlargement on account Of the opportuni-
ties they afford for ''innocent and healthful
exercise and amusement" This is in fact
the only ground ever assumed, and the ONLY
argument ever urged in their favor by those
who advocate them.
Now there are no classes Of persons that
heed innocent and healthful exercise and
amusement more than the ladies and the
preachers of our city. Would the Mayor
and the members of the City Council urge
their pastors and their own wives and daugh-
tiers to frequent the Bowling Alleys and Bill
lard Saloons on Main and johnson streets ?
Why not?
If, then, these places do not afford suita-
bic facilities for amusement and exercise to
those of our citizens who need them most,
that argument is without weight, for loafers,
boys, and business men generally, can find
exercise and amusement elsewhere, and if
not, the City Fathers are not bound to fur
nlsh these classes with exclusive privileges Of
that kinda the expense of the city.
But these establishments are not only not
innocent, or merely useless they are, in the
opinion of moral people generally, absolute
ly VICIOUS. In many of the States the keep
ing such establishments is held to be a crime,
ana so punished by statute; and although
they are not mentioned by name in our stat
utes, our laws against gambling and betting
are so comprehensive and stringent, that the
parties at these games almost invariably vio-
late the criminal code of Iowa.
Aside from the fact that the people and
their legislators have not regarded these es-
adjustments as reputable, it is notorious that
they are crowded with the idle and the VIC
ious. They are the resorts Of professional
gamblers and Infamous characters from all
parts Of the country. They furnish the rnl-
lying points, the common and neutral ground,
where respectable citizens meet gambl ers
ana drunkards, and the yilest characters
from every point of the compass, on an
equal footing. They ARE the grand ierees
where our Young men are introduced to the
professional gambler, and are enticcd into
habits of drinking and of gambling. where
they are of necessity exposed to all those
''ewl communications which corrupt good
morqls.''
Billiard Tables and Bowling Alleys do not
support themselves alone. Every variety Of
game and all the parapher nalia of gambling
devices are constantly asso ciated with them
Bat they not only serve as a blind for every
species of gambling, they furnish cover and
render efficient aid to the traffic Of the dog
gery-Aeeper.
These facts are notorious. Our citizens
know that for years pa st just this state of
tocts has existed is our city These estab-
hshments have been our nurseries Of ideness
and vice, where many OF our citizens have
been trained in habits Of drinking and gam
bling, where many of our young men have
been exposed TO the arts and the cntioements
OF hordes of professional gamblers who have
constantly congregated there, and whence
have issued, as from dens of thieves, the
burglars who have broken int 0 our stores and
dwellings,.
we all have seen, too, with what success
the proprietors of these BOWL ng Alleys and
billiard Saloons, by means OF the aid and
comfort which they afforded, have prosecut-
ed the business of dram selling in violation
OF law aud in despite of indictments, con
Yictions and fines.
1t was in view Of such cons iderations as
these that the City Council last year pass
81 an ordinance which fixed the amount to
be paid for each track of Bowling Alley
at the sum of two hundred dollars, and each
Billiard Table at the sum Of one hundred and
hfty dollars, intending thereby to prohibit
the business. We approved that action, and
believing that the moral character Of the old
Council will not suffer BY comparison with