The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-03-28


the city Of Astoria will come up fol
consideration.
This is a matter Of grave import
ance.
The question Of dollars and cents
which is usually the only one to be
considered sinks into secondary import.
ance.
The moral result in this case is the
one of first Importance.
The city council is composed of men
elected to look after the moral and
financial interests of the city in the
best business way.
The moral question in this case is the
one they should consider first. The
question of revenue is unworthy Of
consideration.
In the present state of society 1t "a
to secure perfect morality. 1t
is impossible to entirely suppress eyil
and the council are called upon to de-
eide what means will to the fullest ex-
tent limit, suppress and weigh down the
evil, which 1t is apparent they have not
the power to stamp out and destroy.
They must adopt that course which
will most effectually protect the COM
munity from the cmrupting influence
Of an evil which exists among us and
has continued to exist and spread In
spite Of all efforts to crush It by pro-
hibitiory legislation.
A horde Of gamblers plying their
business in well known resorts, and Of
fetal corruption are conditions plain to
be seen wherever an attempt is made
to legtslate the gambling out of exist
ence.
An0 illdllSl uclO1c Tic CoulCil 10 Al
some respect difficult one to decide on
its merits, involving as 1t does moral
and financial questions that require
careful consideration and freedom from
bias of personal interests that may be
by expression of opinion.
1t is not safe in matters of this nature
to trust to one or two mems Judgment.
concensus Of opinion will. guide to
the best results for the community.
Everybody knows more than any,
body.
Recognizing this, The Astorian has
aiken care to interview many of our
,itizens, and Of different views. The
gambler who wants
run wide open." the moral
people who Intellectually struggle to
'hut all evil up tight, and cast 1t into
he lowermost depths of Hades, the
lvariclous landlord who is consider
ng only how to squeeze out the big
rest rental from his houses, and the
areful business man who is trying to
consider everything, including the rep
ltation of the city abroad, and the pos
ible effect license or no license would
AVE in attracting or repelling valu-
liable investors.
All these have been consulted and
heir opinions noted as evidence.
The other newspapers in the city have
published their opinions editorially, and
lso the opinions Of interested parties.
The Astorian has refrained from ex-
ressing its opinion until 1t could give
he question the careful consideration
Is Importance demands.
The following will sufficiently Illus
rate the variety Of opinion expressed
y our people on the question whether
o license gambling or not.
/. Don't license it. Enforce the
tate law. 1t stamps gambling as a
rime. If you license 1t you brand this
ommunity as one that upholds and
avors gambling. Astoria win be ad-
ertised far and wide as city that is
he abode of open immortality"
2. License 1t. We can't stop it any
lore than we can close out the saloons
nd stop drinking. and we ought to
lake those who keep gambling houses
ay well for the privilege"
3. "Well. we have state law
gainst gambling. that ought to be en-
breed, but there Is not enough senti-
lent opposed ambling in this COM
lunity to enforce the law. still l
link 1t would look bad to license gam
ling. 1t would be an admission to the
ltside world that the morals OF this
were rather low. It would
OF be good advertisement for the
ty. Better let the matter stand as It
, and sometime the moral element Of
lie community may rise and enforce
lie law"
The foregoing gives with sutncient
ocuracy the views OF different, people
a this question. Note this. the two
pposite classes in the city who unite
opposing licensed gambling. First.
lie highly moral. whose sympathies in
Inc to prohibition. Second. the pro-
rietors of places with respectable ap-l