The semi-weekly miner., 1885-02-18


stop it upon week dayss Mr.. Forbis'
bill will not do it: It does not make
it the duty of any officer to enforce
Its provisions, and what is every
body's business generally proves to
he no ones business. The history of
PRoH1B1T0RY LAWS
Shows they are failures. States
which have tried prohibitory liquor
laws are seriously considering the
advisability of repeating them and OF
adopting the high license system
while those States in which high lie
cense prevails are perfectly satisfied
with its working. Believing as do
that prc hibition does not prohibit
and that all evils, which cannot be
suppressed, growing out Of our social
relations and the crude condition OF
society, can be better controlled and
restricted by high license and re-
moval from public view, lam decid-
edly in favor of the latter plan. In
this position I firmly believe I am
sustained by q
LARGE MAJORITY
Ofthe people of Montana: With one
or tive exceptions the newspapers Of
the Territory are opposed to Mr..
Forbis' bill. They hold that it is
premature, aims too high and will, II
it become q law, remain q dead letter
npon our statute books. The general
sentiment of the people Of the Terri
tory. and believe ofa large maj 3rity
ofthe citizens of Butte, seems to be in
ravor Of prohibiting all Tercentage
games ;: Of exacting heavy licenses
from the others ana removing them
to back or upper rooms OF
buildings out of public view. Heavy
licenses will close large number OF
gaming houses now open lessen the
number of games played in those re.
naming and by removing them to
back or upper rooms Of oqild1ngs
will, meas uraoly, place them beyond
the reach of the uninltiated and cease
to tempt the unwary. This is the
view taken by Governor 20 t. Mr..
Seligman, Con Kohrs and Others In
the lower House OF the legislature.
They take q practical view of the
matter and recognize the cold, stub
born fact that gambling will be
carried on in spite of all laws pro-
h,biting it.
And now Mr.. Editor one word in
regard to
GAMBLERS.
They have been spoken of ~ rob-
bers, thieves, pests cf society etc., IN
fact condemned in almost as severe
language a. were the newspaper men
of the Territory in the House the
other day. But in my wanderings
| in the West during the past ten or
fifteen years have seen their open
handedness in contributing towards
the general good; in giving deceI t
buriel to the poor, In aiding distressed
families, in subscribing to the build
| ing fund of churches, ana in numer-
GUS other acts of charity. l under
stand they are as q class prompt and
honorable IN the payment of their
debts and that hotels, boarding
QOuSeS aUu OUS1uS0S AAt ~ A0SViy AOSO
through their custom. l have heard
of none that have become 'bloated
bondholders in their profession or
who, miser-like, hoard their money.
On the contrary it is generally con-
ceded they give their money a chance
and keep it moving. They make q
lively dollar out of q sluggish one,
and generally throw all their win
nings into channels of legitimate
trace. In saying this do not wish
to be regarded as an apologist for
gamblers, for L am not, but I be-
lieve in giving all men their dues. be
they saint or sinner. Hoping, Mr..
Editor, that I have not intruded too
much upon. your valuable space, I
remain, truly yours,
= JUSTICE.