Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-04
SOUTH OMAHA THEIR RESORT.
In Case Annexation Fails the Gamblers Will
Seek Quarters There
AND MANAGE GROUND FLOOR HOUSES
They Have Already Made Offers of
Financial Assistance to Defeat the
Welding Of the Two Cities
How They stand.

A leaky Omaha gambler inadvertently ex-
posed a pretty scheme the knights of the
green cloth have in view in case the annexa-
tion Of Omaha and South Omaha fails to oc-
cur.
Under the influence OF number of whisky
sours partaken of in Douglas street saloon
the other night he told enough of the plans
OF the short card men in the presence of a
BEE reporter to prompt the latter to make IA
thorough investigation.
To better understand just how this is to
occur in South Omaha the condition of the
gamblers of Omaha and Council Bluffs re-
quires explanation.
Gambling Is carried on TO a limited extent
In Omaha, but in rooms inaccessible TO the
police, and where the ordinary, everyday
workingman and small boy Is not permitted
because he don't know the ropes. such
scenes as were witnessed three and four
years ago in Omaha are things of the past
TO be caught at gambling Is a crime punish
able by heavy fines.
Up to the spring election in Council Bluffs
gambling was carried on there as openly and
denantly as ever known in the history of the
city. Since the inauguration of the new city
government in the Iowa city the gambling
has been cut short in its widc-open business
and their once g1Ound-fOor palaces are closed
up tighter than clans.
In this condition of affairs they are looking
for Il convenient and safe place in which to
ply their vocation. South Omaha furnishes
an inviting field on account of its nearncsS to
Omaha and Council Bluffs and the ample
means of transit to and fro
These features of the condition of the
gamblers were not divulged by the bibulous
sport in the Douglas street saloon They are
patent to any observer. But their movements
in this emergency is what he told.
About two weeks ago party of sports Wis
tied the Magic city and had in their inside
pockets some propositions to make to the Off
cials of the town. II annexation carries
the chance of finding "a sQuatting
place in or about Omaha are slim. If annex
alton is defeated they have II chance to locate
in South Omaha and furnish the sportivcly
inclined population of the three cities places
In which to stake their hard earnings against
nothing. jim Wilson, who was the head of
one of the gambling houses in Council Bluffs,
was with the little party of sports, and he
apparently was engineering the scheme.
How far they succeeded in their plan of ar
ranging things with the city officers, who are
opposed TO annexation is not known but this
much THE BEE representative discovered:
Promises of financial aid to defeat anneXa-
tion were made in return for assurances of
immunity from prosecution during the pres
cnt administration in case the gamblers
located in South Omaha and opened houses
there. 1t was stipulated that the houses
were to be run wide open, sun
days and week days, day and night on the
ground floor and on N street or any other
street in which they might desire to locate.
In addition to furnishing money to assist in
defeating annexation the gamblers expect TO
'assist" the city officials regularly and have
made Overturcs of that character
But whether the city officials of South
Omaha are into the scheme or not,
what certainty have the law-abid-
ing citizens that the gamblers will not
locate there if annexation fails to carry! The
gamblers are figuring on making South
Omaha their headquarters in either event and
Will make an effort to establish themselves
there whether the mayor, police ard citizens
like it or not. 1t is their last opening in this
section of country and II field that has proven
so profitable in past years they will
hang onto it until the last hope is
gone. No other class of peo-
pie are awaiting so eagerly the out
come Of the annexation election as they, and
money to assist in the defeat of the PROPOSE
tion TO consolidate Omaha and South Omaha
1T annexation is defeated South Omaha
may expect to be rated as the toughest towu
in the west. Open gaming places on the
principle street will help to make it so, 1t is
rated tough and unruly town now, and un-
Justly so. The majority, and II great ma
1or1ty, of South Omaha's citizens are peace
able law-abiding people They are not
the cause of its undeservcd notoriety But if
they vote against annexation they lay them
selves, their wives, their daughters and their
sons liable to be contaminated by the pres
ence OF an unruly element that is anxiouSly
awaiting the result of Thursdays election to
swoop down in the city-and call it and make
1t their own to control and govern as they
please.
Omaha and Council Bluffs are closed to the
gamblers. South Omaha is their hope,