The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-02-11
record on this subject, that I desire
to crafty them.

record on this subject, that l desire
to crafty them.
When Mr.. Bald win Was making
his able argument yesterday on the
constitutionality of the bill, n of
the members of this house said 10 ne,
1--WE don't care for the constitution"
If this is the sort of opposition Wa
have to meet, if men care nothing for
the constitution of the United States.
there Is very little use for any Il to
make an argument upon the consti-
tionalityof this bill. 1.-THE speaker then
tered into an extended and ffrclbie
ar uncut to show that the bill was
in conflict with article four Of the
amendments to the constitution Of
the United States. which provides
that the right Of the people to be Sc.
cure in their persons, houses, papers
and effects against unreasonable
searches and seizures. shall not be
violated.] If there were no constr
tutional provisions upon this subject
this bill Of itself would be absurd and
ridiculous. If the shade of Cotton
Mather were to settle down upon
this assembly there might be more
show of liberality than Is here shown
by the friends of this bill. The author
Of this bill cares nothing for the rich
mans gambling. but he Is opposed to
the poor man doing so. the rich
man can say to the poor one: II can
gamble as much as I please, but you
sons of toll must not do So" This is
the argument which l have seen ad.
vauced by the members here who are
In favor of this bill. 1 understand
that even the ten commandments
havej been pressed into the ser.
vice in favor Of this bill. l know
nothing In those commandments
that can be tortured into a prohilt.
ton of gambling or make it a crime
different Orly in degree flom that of
murder. Weare mere not for a hur-
rah. but to make good, wholesome
aud constitutional laws and no. to
amend or repair the constitution
of The United States. 1 would
be very glad If there was
no gambling or lmmafaEsy
either in Montana or this Union; !
am not in favor of making any class
legislation IN this country, or to say
that gambling differs only in degree
from the crime of murder. We have
been associatjng for years with these
gamblers and we know that some or
them are good citizens, aud to say OF
Observation-Disclosures of them-you may
not be gambling to-day, but you nave
been gambling, and that differs from
murder only in degree; that. 10 these
men with whom we have been a:sc-
ciatiDg for years, and to say to the
old timers that all of a sudden We
have found out how rear this gamt-
ling is to the crime of murde. Some
people are Very greatly exercised
about Butte; there are so many
wicked p ople there! One Of the
gentlemen here CTi4glej said that he
had taken in the town and had seen
them playing the soul-enticing game
of faro and pushing balls around with
two sticks. He had followed the ex-
ample of Talmage, and had taken
them in at night, and then be came
back here to prt ach'a sermon about
the iniquities, and: W~ickedness of
Butte!
The speaker stat-d in conclusion
that he was opposed to the passage OF
the bill because it is unconstitutional
and against the organic act OF the
Territory, because it deprives the
Territory of revenueI because it could
not and would not be enforced, be-
cause it would cost an immense
amount of money to- attempt to ELL
force it, and becauss it is restrictive
legislation to which he wa opposed
or principle.
Forbis and Tlngle replied to Speer,
and were followed tby Baldwin in
opposition to the bilk. AS teleg spiel
you, the bill passed py a vote OF II tc
8, Ba dwin, Kohrs, Polts, Taylor,
Seligman and Speer voting against it.