Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-20
GAMBLING IN THE ARMY.
Important Cabinet Council.
I"Fifth Column" n. Y. Times. /

l.
There is q general impression at Washington
that the soldiers In our frontier forts spend their
spare time in gambling. Naturally, the Congress
sional mind is fllled with horror at the thought
that sinful games should be played by men ia the
service OF the United States and bills have been
introduced by virtuous legislators To put STOP
to the practice. The President Is understood to
have been greatly panied On learning that the
officers and men of the Federal Army are ad-
dicted to gambling, and the other day, just be
fore the appointment OF a new Secretary OF war,
propriety OF requesting Mr.. McCrary's successor
to issue an order prohibiting gambling under
heavy penalties.
speech, In which, after passing allusion to the
crops OF the past season. he said that he had
learned that gambling prevailed to very great
exteEt among the troops on the frontier. This
gambling, the President said, was carried on,
not only In the usual way by pitching pennies
and playing marbles to keep, but by game OF
cards called, II he remembered rightly, ''sledge-
hammer or stOngs." With this game he was
glad to say that he was totally unacquatnted,
but he feared that there was no doubt that 1t
was a wicked game, and one which was so fas-
cinating that the soldiers would frequently sell
their Bibles and hymn-books in order to raise
money with which to play. He wished to hear
their opinion as to the eXpediency OF an order
from the department forbidding all games of
harce.
games to which he had referred were doubtless
''Old Sledge" and poker" The former, he was
free to say, was game unworthy Of officers and
that 1t was ruinous both to the body and the
pocket-he should say. soul 81 remember"
pursued Mr.. Key, THAT while was an erring
pay day. once raked in seventy-four thousand
dollars in confederate currency ut was worth
about eight hundred dollars In single night.
just did hold the most alfred hands. There
was twice drew to three kings and filed. /
reckon l made about four times my pay by
poker while was in the army"
Permit me to inquire" said Mr.. EvartS, elf
my learned friend adduces these facts as evil
dence Of the ruinOus consequences of poker?
II So will call the attention OF his Honor the
President to the fact that they go to prove that
this so-called poker is one OF the most profitable
of American industries"
81 cannot blay any Of your boxer" said Mr..
schulz, but know my blanc is far better l
will blay Something's for you now If you like
But, SOL gan l believe it? Is der biano away
from der room gOne?"
The President explained that Mrs Hayes had
moved the piano up stairs so as to make more
IOCm for the Cabinet meeting.
] game TO Washington there is biano in every
house to which 1 vent. Now every one has
been up stairs taken. Cannot account for it.
What Is ~
81 recklect," broke in Mr.. Thompson without
the slightest apology fer his interruption of Mr.
SchurZ, 81 recklect when was a boy raftin' on
the Wabash, we used to play old sledge and
poker, and go the odd man for quarters all
day long. One vyge scooped the cabin and all
hands, and GENE into New-Orleans with all the
money of the whole crowd in my pocket. But
as Mir. Hayes says, gamblin' is wrong, very
wrong Still there's this to be said for it.
While the soldiers are playing poker they can't
be readin' POpish books or listenin' to Jesuit
priests, and there's no manner OF doubt that
Rtmanism is sight W orse than gambling. I'd
like to see a general order requiring every
soldier TO make an affidavit once month that
he is a gcGd Protestant, and is determined to
tight The Pore to the last gasp nu,.,,ou n,or,
son would kindly explain what he meant Dy a
quarter OF an odd man.
Mr.. Thompson said that he could Illustrate
very easily, if Mr.. Hayes and Mr.. Key would
each put quarter of dollar down on the table
and cover it with their hands, while he did
the same with another quarter. He then
asked them to lift their hands and show the
coins Both the Presidents and Mr.. Keys
quarters lay with their ..heads" up, while Mr.:
explained Mr.. Thompson. THAT your quarters
were just alike. while mine was different; so I'm
the odd man, and scoop in your money"
Mr.: Hayes regarded the disappearance OF his
suggested that they had better try it again, as
he did not yet fully understand the game and
wished to know the full extent OF its wicked
ness. In the next three experiments the Presi-
dent won, and remarked that he did not see but
that If it were played within proper limits, it
would be an innocent and amusing game. AS
the investigation still proceeded, Mr. EvartS
and the rest of the Cabinet, with the exception
OF Mr.. Key and Mr.. Thompson, gradually with
drew. Twice Mr.. Thompson sent the cal!-boy
out for change, and his brow grew darker as
the hours went on 1t was fully 10 o'clock when
the President rose up and denounced the game
as being OF clearly satanic origin. Mr. Thomo-
son conceded with him, observing that its char
acter had entirely changed snce his carly Wa
bash days, but Mr.. Key, with his pockets
loaded down with silver prote sted that he saw
nothing wrong about the game and would be
glad to assist the President 10 any further inve5-
legation Of the kind that he might feel disposed
to make.
This is the story of the Cabinet meeting which
certain wicked army officers assert is the only
true and authorized account OF its proceedings.
There is reason, however, to doubt its literal
truth. Is it probable that either the President
the Postmaster-Gen or the Secretary of the
Navy would have told what occurred at q secret
meeting OF the Cabinet? II they did not, 1t is
evident that we have no trustworthy account of
how the game stood when the meeting broke
up