The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-09
TALK ABOUT GAMBLING,
The Reason Why the San
Francisco Whist Club
Is Divided.
WHY P. J. T0RMEY RESIGNED.
A Meeting Called for the Purpose
of Investigating Certain
Charges.

1t is expected that there will be some
lively proceedings next Saturday evening
at a special meeting of the San Francisco
Whist Club. which has been called by the
president, n. D. Rideout, at the request of
the following members: E. II. Cole, II. G..
Way, C. T. Deane, L. Hovey, q. K. Mey-
ers. W. R. Lovegrove, E. P. Schell, G. w.
Walthew, R. Kendrick, P. J. Tormey, a.
Woodward, A. Moreton, n. T. Coulson, NJ.
w. Bell.
The question agitating the club is
whether gambling is to be allowed within
its precincts. There are about 800 mem
bers, half of whom are ladies, and lately q
number of ardent whist-players have no
ticed with sorrow and dismay that the
pure and simple delight of whist for its
own sake was being superseded by ten
dency to play continually for stakes.
"Reminiscences proved useless, for the
gam blers were in the majority.
2. J. Tormey one of the directors OF the
National American Whist League, ten
dered his resignation as director of the
local whist club, but it was accepted, and
the playing for stakes went on as merrlly
as ever.
At last fifteen members, headed by Mr..
| Tormey, sent in a petition for the special
meeting, which will take place on Satur-
day. II is their intention to introduce the
| following bylaw for the consideration OF
| the members:
Gambling, betting or playing cards for stakes
or points, Tor money, or the representatives OF
| money, in any and every form, shall be abso-
| lutely prohibited in our clubrooms.
"We have been driven to do it," said P.
| J. Tormey yesterday. Things are coming
| to such a pass that it is difficult for a mem
Der who refuses to play for stakes 10 find a
partner, and as director OF the American
| Whist League [ cannot possibly counte-
nance gambling. The San Francisco club
| belongs to the league. it is true, but the
national organization leaves each club free
| to make its bylaws, and in the other clubs
belonging to the league no gambling is
| allowed"
| In reply to the question OF how much
| money q man could win or lose in one
evening at the points used Mr.. Tormey re-
piled that the maximum he had ever heard
| of was So 10 $iS. II have never heard OF
more, but 1 believe as much as $50 would
be possible and in a public club, where
there are ladies and gentlemen, it does not
| seem right that there should be promiscu-
Gus gambling.
Mr.. Tormey added that the anti gamblers
| had little hope of carrying their point, but
| that they intended to try for the principle
| of the thing.
George H. Bates, the attorney, who is
one of the directors, laughed when ques-
| toned about the proposed bylaw. at S
an odd thing" he said, that MIR. Tormey
| is violating his resolution at this very
/ moment He is playing in the Oakland
whist tournament for prize, and yet his
| article says there shall be no playing fol
money or the representatives OF money. A
| prize represents money.
'.As for the gam bling in the whist club
we do play for 10-cent points in the
smoking room, but never in the room fire.
| ouented by the ladies. Sometimes we play
/ for double stakes-20 cents point-but
! do not believe even then that any one ever
wins or loses as much as dollar.
~ have played whist for 10-cent stakes
1 for the last six months myself, and am not
/ S. either to the good or the bad as conse-
quence It's ridiculous to say they do not
/ play for small stakes in the smoking
/ rooms of the other clubs of the American
/ Whist League, for I have seen them doing
! it myself again and again. In England
! and France whist is never played IN club:
/ except for some stake"
| 1t is the intention of the directors to Offer
1 justification for the club at the meeting
on Saturday The directors are: n. D.
/ Rideout, 1. Hecht, F. Jaynes, II. Payot
and d. l.. Farnsworth.