The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-14
LOUISVILLE MORALITY.

LOUISVILLE MORALITY.
The gamblers of Louisville feel confident
that they will be allowed to resume the prac-
position Of certain merchants Of the city, who
have informally petitioned the mayor to that
effect. That official says: Without calling
any names may say that representatives
from the business houses on Fourth avenue
and Main street and bank officials have called
upon me, and asked, for the sake Of the COM
mercial interests of the city, to allow the
gamblers to operate" This is a remarkable
revelation, and only the presumed integrity
of the mayor prevents incredulity from refus-
ing to accept it as true. Certain branches Of
business are doubtless Immediately benefited
by the liberation of gamblers; few tailors
and jewelers., and all the saloons are we'll
patronized, the first two by the professional
men themselves, the latter by their victims
But to take the business of any city in its
entirety, it is difficult, if not impossible, to
make argument that gambling is its patron.
IT, as Louisville's mayor claims bank officials
of gamblers, it would be we'll for depositors to
discover, if possible, who these bankers are.
An institution of that kind, whose officials be-
lieve that gambling makes business, would be
a good one to withdraw deposits from. The
people of Louisville are to be congratulated on
having mayor equal to the occasion.
He quickly punctured their sophistry by
asking them to return to their places
of business and write him, for publication,
whatever they might have to say upon the
gambling question. None of them cared to
appear in print as champions of gambling
The argument advanced in private was that
country dealers come to the city as much to
have frolic as to buy goods and if this was
not the case they would buy of drummers,
and thus save the expense of the trip. The
plea is that if these roysterers cannot have "a
good time in Louisville, by being robbed by
gamblers, they will 60 to Cincinnati or else
where, where they can. The argument is too
specious to deceive anybody, and it is difficult
to exercise the patience necessary to give it
hearing. One large firm said that certain
wealthy gambler used to purchase from 800
to $3.50 worth of goods from them per week
for himself and mistress. To retain this Gus
tom this firm would like to allow the gambler
to continue his business Of robbing people,
provided it could be done without giving pub
licitv to the name Of the firm in that con
nection. 1t is said that there are about two
hundred professional gamblers in Louisville,
so that the few who enjoy their valuable pat
the same issue that this revelation is
made is an account of the robbing of
a country merchant in one of the many
Olives Of that city. The same argument
advanced to defend gambling would apply
with equal force to these places. The country
merchants who have "a good time" at
gambling will be equally we'll entertained at
houses of i'll fame. Many of the bediamonded
and silk-clad mistresses of those places are
doubtless valuable patrons of certain jewelry
and fancy goods stores. They should be kept
open and encouraged, lest certain hummer
merchants of the country tributary to Louis
vile be driven elsewhere to crafty their de-
sire to dissipate Unfortunately for this spe-
cies of argument, gamblers do not draw all
their victims from country merchants. A
good share of the 800 and $3.50 week spent
by certain Louisville gambler for the benefit
Of himself and mistress must come from the
tills of the merchants and bankers Of that
city. Declarations and bankruptcies are fire.
quent; merchants and clerks, and officials
have proved recreant to their trusts there and
elsewhere, through the losses sustained in the
seductive pleasure" The daily press is filled
with repeated instances of crime originating
in the sin of gambling. No self respecting
merchant or banker will dare openly petition
for the liberation of gambling.