The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-02-11
THE GAMBLHG BILL.
A Synopsis Of Mr.. FOPbIs. Speech on
Fl the. Gambling Bill.

4
Inthe committee of the whole Mon
day, in the house of representatives, for
the consideration of house bill No. %, in
tnoduced by Mr.. Forbis. Of Silver Bow
and which is an act for the suppression
of gambling in Montana, during the dis
cussion and consideration of said bill,
Mr.. Potts, of Lewis ane Clarke, said that
he very much iiesired'fo heas$the views
of the gentleman who introduced the bill
upon the subject to which il related, to
which Mr.. Forbis responded and of
which the following is synopsis:
81 might very properly inquire OF the
gentleman from Lewis and Clarke,tMr.
PottsJ why this bill should not become a
law, instead of his inquiry why we
should not put such law upon the stat
utes of Montana IF the gentleman will
go to clerks desk he will find that his
own good wife is one of the petitioners
forthe passage of the bill (cheers) but
maybe she is not one of the gentleman's
constituents. Qaughter) The gentle-
man should give us some reason why
this bill.should not pass, is there any
question as to whether this bill is a
moral act or not II does not come
here as a religious measure and feel
that every man in this house should sup
port this measure if only for the reason
that it is for the cause Of humanity, and
| believe the persons who do so support
the morality of Montana. say without
fear of contradiction that no one will say
that this is net moral measure, or that
gambling is as good and legitimate husi-
ness as any other II is an admitted im-
morality there can be no controversy
in that respect whatever; and ! cannot
see whyfthe gentleman should ask me
to give a reason why this act should not
be passed, and if gambling is an admit
ted immortality, why should any one
hesitate about voting in favor of the
passage of the bill !? If it is wrong at all
and in itself, it only differs in degree
from the crime Of murder, and if it is to
be licensed why not say how much for
murder how much for larceny and 9TH
er crimes. Let it not 90 forth to the
world that the question is whether or
not Montana shall license crime. She is
as much advanced in civilization as any
other state or territory in the union and
she should not say that crime shall be
carried on simply to fill her Golfers. 1t is
a-dlsgrace to the territory of Montana to
| say that we need to prostitute ourselves
and live upon our shame in licensing the
crime of gambling. Where does all this
money come from2 Does thegentleman
say that the gamblers produce it No
sir, they do not produce dollar, but
they drain from the hard earued money
of the poor, and then turn it into the
treasury of Montana l do not believe
that the gentleman. himself:will vote
upon any such proposition as this in
favor OF vice. They say that an act sup
pressing gambling cannot be enforced.
desire to say that Montana can enforce
any law just as well as any other state OF
Territory IN the union, (applause). Ifthis
| gambling;is allo @efdsto 60 on, it wall in
/ evitably. ruin the character of Montana,
The moral sentiment Of this territory is
with this. bill. and there is no reason
why it cannot be enforced in Montana as
anywhere else. / do not care how much
business men, or those who can stand
ztfIe I6ssa.s-ineLifred- thqrein may gamble,
but it is the poor and laboring man and
his family whom | wish 10 protect and
in whose fayorI protest against the fur.
Their continuation Of TITS evil; and Lido
i'Efiow' chat this bill passed. viii shut
these gambling houses and permit him
tospayahis debts and support his family
from his labor If there is anyone who
doubts that it is the poor man who sup.
ports these gambling tables and gam
blers let him go to Butte an Z he will see
for himself that such is Che case beyond
on all doubt. 1t is.only q ii after Of time
when this vice viii be suppressed I'm
Montana, and if this bill is not enacted
now, will be enacted some other time in
the future. fiIo not ddubt that Montana
/ will enact tins bill sooner or later"