The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-03-30
Men Whose Names
Carry Weight

proposed gambling ordinance, A peru
sal Of the following, however, will & n
vince the public that the more en-
lightened citizens do not view the mat
ter through the glasses Of the Swill-
town organ:
Mr.. c. p. Upshur-If the statutes can
not be enforced so as to absolutely wipe
out gambling, the best thing that can
be done is to impose a license that
shall be prohibitive, or almost so. and
thus abate and keep the evil in as mar
row bounds as possible.
Mr.. w. B. Adair-I am opposed to
gambling in any form, but am ready
to lend my moral support to any meas
ure that will lessen, If not suppress en-
tirely, the gambling evil The city coun-
cilmen are elected to office to act for
the best interests of the city, and 1t is
for them to adopt the measures which,
in their judgment, seems most likely to
gain the desired end.
Mr.. G. c. Fulton-I am in favor of
the council licensing gambling. The
state for many years has had laws pro-
hibiting the evil, but those laws have
never been enforced. In nearly all the
larger cities throughout the country
the principle of licensing gambling has
been adopted, and it seems to me that
the police would have better control of
the matter than they otherwise would.
1t would do away largely with the dens
where young boys are placed on the
road to ruin. AS to the legal aspect of
the case, 1 do not think there is any
doubt that the legislature can confer
upon the city the power to license gam
bling. may add that am, like The
Astorian, opposed on principle to gam
bling, and believe in abating as far as
possible an evil that cannot be entirely
suppressed.
Mr.. G. H. George-I am opposed to
gambling in any form. The state laws
should be enforced, but they are not;
and inasmuch as such is the case, /
think that any means tending to either
suppress or abate the evil would be
justifiable.
Mr.. G. Wingate: Would have no
compromise made. He was opposed to
gambling in any form, and urged the
claim that there was a state law
against it, in support of his stand. He
was reminded of the power conferred
upon the city council by the legislature,
and replied that "the legislature does
not reflect the opinions Of the better
people of Oregon. However" he ad-
mitted, anything that will do away
with gambling and gambling houses,
commends itself to me-"
Ex-Mayor J. w. Hume: Gam
bling is undoubtedly an evil, but one
which cannot be done away with, If we
may judge from an experience extend
ing over a period of two decades. For
that reason I am heartily in favor of re-
stricting 1t as far as possible. The end
justifies the means, and If high Ii
cense will be instrumental in reducing
the number of gambling houses, in hav-
ing games conducted fairly and square
ly and in keeping minors away from
such exciting pursuits, then by all
means let the council take the broad
ground that it is their moral duty to
assist as far as lies in their power in
accomplishing this desirable end. At
the present time there are dozens of
places in the city where minors are al
lowed to-, and do, gamble, and any
means would be justifiable to. prevent
such habits being practiced by irrespon-
sible youths. ~
Mr.. T. o. Trullinger-I am heartily
in favor of regulating and abating as
far as possible an evil that can not be
suppressed. b
DR.. H. w. Strickler-Considerin the
stage of civilization we are in today.
my conclusion is that the best way is
to regulate the evil by municipal super
vision.
Rev. L. Nissen, pastor Of the Nor
wegian Evangelic Lutheran church:
am heartily with you in your fight. The
question opens up innumerable ideas,
but 1 believe that the highest religion
today consists in a judicious blending
of stern morality and humane common
sense. 1 believe that for over twenty
years attempts have been made to sup
press gambling here, and with no avail.
If we cannot destroy it completely let
us not drive 1t into private byways,
but put it under control and keep 1t
within strict bounds.
Judge F. J.. Taylor: 1 am thor
oughly in accord with your posi-
ton. 1t is impossible to annihilate
gambling. You cannot stamp 1t out. I
believe therefore in bringing it within
the light of day and strict municipal
supervision. If the moralists knew the
ethics of morality the cause is theirs,
and they would support it. Diminish
and control gambling If you cannot
wipe it off the face Of the earth.
Mr.. Brenham Van Dusen, when ap-
preached on the subject, said: II do
not approve of licensing gambling" !"
"Do you not think asked the reporter,
that if such an ordinance were passed.
and resulted in the almost entire sup
preston Of gambling-do you not think,
Mr.. Van Dusen, that the result would
commend itself to you on strictly NOR
al grounds?"
81 am opposed to licensing gam
bling" was the equivocal response.
IL, 4, that manner would Mr..