Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-24
"A WIDE-OPEN TOWN.
Columbus Now the Secure Mecca of
the Gambling Fraternity.
POoLROOMS ARE THE WORST EVIL.
Tho Mayor Fights in Vain for Purity
Against the City Officers.
POLICE PROTECT THE POKER JOINTS

| ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArCH.1
| COLUMBUS, Jan. 23.-Ohio's capital is at
present the one bright spot in the gamblers
forced journey. He has been driven from
other cities Of the country by strict regula-
tion and the enforcement of the law, and it
| is with sigh of relief that he reaches a
wide-open town. There is probably not
another city in the country where the fra
ternity meet the abandon and freedom
which greets them in Columbus.
The members of the Legislature are about
to protect themselves against the brace
games and bunko sharks who crowd the
streets and in a measure obstruct locomo-
tion. For this purpose, what is known as
the Daugherty bill for reorganization of the
| city, has been introduced and is we'll along
| in the legislative hopper.
In the arguments offered before the Legis-
lative Committee, the most prominent is
that the city should have relief from the
gambling holes with which it is infested
and the people be given chance to use the
streets. Whether the new order of things,
which is promised at an early day will be
any better, is yet to be determined.
F1ourishing Under a Liberal Mayor.
The Demo Gratis are now in control of all
! the city departments under the ''Ripper"
legislation of last winter, and they are not
moving harmoniously in the handling of the
fraternity. Mayor Karb was elected last
spring and thought to jump into popularity
by enforcing all the laws and ordinances,
but was a little slow in making the move
He was chosen on liberal platform, with
out any pledges to fulfill, and the gamblers
took it for granted that as they were not an
issue of the campaign they would be given
the freedom of the city.
The Mayor was in training under the
tutelage of liberal Board of Police Com
missioners, and he was led for several
months to be believe there was nothing
going on but that which might be approved
by the most exact. During the spring and
summer months the town became flooded,
and in addition to the regular games of faro,
which grew to the dozen limit, nearly every
saloon had its "crap john" and finally
keno layout on a large scale was opened.
The Poolrooms the Greatest Evil.
These were minor attractions compared
with the poolrooms which opened for the
sale of combinations on all important sport
ing events.
The revenue was all going in one direc-
tion, and Mayor Karb, through the offices of
several of the reformers, finally discovered
what was going on and issued an order for
closing of the poolrooms, followed by in
structions to look after the other gaming
centers in the city.
For several weeks there was some pre-
tense at an observance of the order; that is,
the front doors were closed part of the
time The Mayor found his order did not
go. and he undertook to force the Chief
of Police (Murphy) to the front, but the
latter was stubborn and apparently had
the support of the Police Commission.
Gambling continued in a quiet way until
two weeks since, when the order was passed
around that everything could go open as
formerly, and there has been no cessation
since. 1t is well understood that Murphy
is authority for the freedom which exists at
present, and the Mayor is endeavoring to
find some way in which to secure relief.
Murphy Threatened With Suspension.
1t has been intimated to the Mayor in
the past few days that the element in the
police department which is opposed to his
order is reaping quite handsome dividend
from the privilege and this has again aroused
him to action. 1t is current gossip on the
streets to-day that the Mayor will within,
the next two days suspend Murphy
from the force. He is said to
have had this move in view
1OI some weeks, DuJ ucSlIdteU IOf LHc ItdSOu
that his suspension would only be tempor-
ary and until the Police Commissioners
might meet, when they could sustain or
undo the work which he had commenced,
just as suited their ideas of propriety. He
fearAhe is unable to control majority of
the commission.
As an excuse for suspension, the Mayor
claims that the Chief last week absented
himself from the city without leave, and
has refused since returning to make any ex-
PLANTATION concerning his absence. The
real cause for the suspension, however,
when it comes will be the disagreement
over the gambling question.
An Inventory OF the Big Joints.
During the fall, when there was tenn
porary suspension of business. many of the
gamblers left the city, but within the past
two weeks the majority of them have re-
turned, ana their former places of gathering
are kept brilliantly illuminated all night.
Columbus is city of about 100 900 in
habitants, and at present is supporting two
large pool rooms where hundreds gather |
daily, and five richly furnished faro empor-
iums, with not less than so poker games
with established headquarters. The sports
of the country will recognize the familiar
green-cloth habitues when the names of
Weber and Putnam, Dick Morehead, Marsh |
Siddons John Alexander, the Black Prince;
Arthur Duffy and George w. SAVERS, are
mentioned as proprietors and promoters of
the game. These all have hazard games ]
and stud poker accompaniments, with |
roulette's at about half the number.
1t is great day for the sports in Colum- |
bus, and the prospects are that the harvest |
will continue.