Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-28
MAX'S MELANCE.
A Street Wanderers Comments and 0pin-
ions On Subjects of Local lmpor-
tanCe.
UnSelfishncSs of the Press-PluckIng the
Rich-Bucket Shops and Draw Poker
a Good dSocIety-Base Ball, Thanks
giving and other Local Topics.

Rich-Bucket Shops and Draw Poker
a Good society Ball, Thanks
giving and other Local Topics.
Every newspaper republican, democratic
and independent, does herculean work in
cate certain men and measures. Many ad-
vocate the cause they espouse ably and Wig
orously, and not a few exert the influence
of their columns successfully.
All this political or moral reform work
is done at a greater or less expense to each
paper, and yet not one paper in fifty that
use their columns to elect certain Candi-
dates receives either pecumiary or other
equivalent for its services. Every man de
mands and receives pay for his services,
whether he be a physician, lawyer, or what
not, but by general consent the newspaper
is expected to contribute months of services
for absolutely nothing, either in honor or
emuluncnt. | think | may say without
fear of successful contradiction that news
paper publishers, who are ever exposing
shams and impOsterS. are themselves more
imposed upon by pretenders than any other
class of men.
Newspapers are urged to labor for the
triumph of principle" but does the farmer
till the soil, does the doctor visit and pre-
scribe for patients, does the candidate run
for Office merely TO vindlcate a principle?
LOp off the salary from all Office, for in
stance, and in less than two weeks law
would have to De passed tif any lawmakers
could be found tO pass it, To compel certain
persons 10 discharge official duties or sub
init to a fine. Even then large per cent.
of the people would accept the alternative
AMI pay the fine.
The political orator. if he be man of
prominence, values his services during a
campaign at many hundreds Of dollars and
he gets what he asks or he declines 10 crate
If | may be permitted to use such a word.
1t is only the newspaper that works truly,
honestly and unseliShiy to advance the in
tereSts of parties and men and noble work
they do, notwithstanding the frequency
with which they are damned.
There are probably very few editors and
publishers of newspapers of any prominence
who would not promptly kick the man out
of the Office who dared to offer money for
/ llit ulAutllCt vi MS paper. lucl "oIIu
consider il an insult TO their honor to be ap-
| preached in such manner, and if the editor
was man of spirit. the fellow who had Of
| fered to buy his influence would in very
short time have need of a personal organ" 1"
The prevailing disposition to pluck peO-
| pie of wealth is one of the most disgrace
! full phases of our advanced civilization. In
10 al
wre>ted from the pOSSeSsOr by force, but
now the owner is deliberately robbed in the
courts of law and halls of Justice sO-called.
| The man or woman who has been left
considerable wealth is at once spotted
as a victim by all the sharks of so
ciety-spOtted not only by the diSreputable
classes, but by apparently respectable busi-
ness and professional men. The person
! who has come into large property finds
! himself beset on every hand by insatiate
and INSCRIPTIONS leecheS. Blackmail,
damage suits and every other scheme is re-
sorted TO 10 deSpoil the possesSor OF his
wealth. especially when such wealth is ill
/ her!trd. The first owner of a handsome
! property, having accumulated it himself, Is
| supposed tO be able, and is generally able
! To hang on to il; but il is the heir who Is
made the victim of every business shark
and trickSteT, and that he often becomes an
easy victim is due 10 the fact that he is
daZZled by the wealth that has come 10 him
easily and parts with il more or less easily.
/ The result is reached either by a direct
damage suit trumped up for the purpose,
! by fOTcea compromise or by aquiet black
mailing scheme. There is a tacit feeling
| in every community that he who suddenly
aCqugeS wealth Is TO he bled all round,
and il is one of the most diShonOrable and
| disreputable phases of modern social life.
| Bucket shop speculation has seen its best
day in Springfield. The old figures linger
about the board, but the habit of betting on
options has lost its infatuatiOn-the better
having previously lost nearly all his money.
The operators have at last awakened
tumbled if you will-tO the fact that they
are betting on another mans game, and
could not even see the man they were play
ing with. In consequence, draw poker is
taking the place of bucket shop gambling
in this city, and nearly every night men
prominent in business, social and profess
SiOnal circles, meet in rooms secluded from
the public gaze, and there indulge often until
a late hour. in the fascinating game of poker.
1t is said to be giving better satisfaction
than the game of produce options. Besides,
the game of poker has the ad-
vantage of keeping the gains and
losses in the city. The bucket shop
with its blackboard and group of detected,
disappointed spectators, will soon be but
an unpleasant memory in Springfield.
Through these hell holes many good
Springfield and Clark county dollar has
dropped into the hands of Chicago grain
gamblers, but, happily, the game has seen
its best day here.
There is really serious talk of a first-class
base ball nine in Springfield next season.
A good playing club would be a good pay
ing investment, but a poor club would be
roasted to death in two weeks. Springfield
has the material, and with capital, little
outside help, and a diamond some other
place than in the fair grounds, a Glib
would pay here.
The president of the New England His
toric Genealogical society. in his annual
address, declared ii "a sacred duty 10 pre-
serve and hand down to future generations
not only the lineage and history of our
families huf TO record the names and yir-