The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-04-02

an ages, IN any q its mulutudinous
/ fCS1ns history shows has never been
completely wiped out since Adam ate
the apple, and II h improbable that
4 Il ever will be. The best we can do
at this age and stage ot the worlds
Development is az least 10 keep the
evils which we cannot prevent nor de-
stroy down to the minimum OF their
influence,
Now. Mr. Editor. look at the facts
briefly, In our own particular case. re-
garilng the one evil " gambling This
/ il a seaport, where. like all other cities
Of its class, great and small there
+ is a mixed population, cemPOssd ot
I representative Of all nations, races
and creeis. which Is constantly chang
ing with the arrival OF every vessel.
For years past gambling has been go-
Ing on under the "put-yOur-hand-be-
hind-you" sneak method. in the cace OF
as strong a law against 1t as ever Sp-
peared upon statute book, and with
q
mission and every minister and intel
iligent citizen OF the community; the
lhlaokman fines thus raised. according
TO the boast Of the police department.
having been sufficient for years 10 ray
all the expenses OF the city govern
ment. Hard times came; the ctty's
debt and taxes were largely increased
wisely or unwisely: the new city
council on beginning Its lahOrs had
serious crisis TO meet-through no
fault OF any Of its members; retrench-
meut was plainly the necessity Of the
hour; expenses had to DC reduced; in
Its wisdom II saw tit, in reducing sal
aries OF other officials. TO reduce those
OF the police department; 1t Is said
sone tooloSh expenses we're incurred
about the same time. chleily in build
ing a new cemetery, an unnecessary
possession al the present time, but facts
as they exist must be met; within Ave
minutes OF the signing OF the orii-
nance reducing SALARIES by the mayor.
all gambling houses were closed. and
that source OF revenue. which had
been steady one for years. and relied
upon by the new council in its esti-
mates OF receipts and expenditures for
the year. was suddenly cut or. Does
anyone believe that II was from a
moral standpoint, or through any dis
position to uphold the law that this
action was taken by the police depart
meat? No. 1t was only the ebullition
OF the smallest possible spirit OF spite
work. and nothing else. As men. swcrn
10 do their duty. could the council
thus crippled have adopted any other
course than TO propose openly and
above board the collection Of the same
revenue upon which the city had SUBJ
sisted for years, and collected. not
without taint. IN a VIGOROUSLY under
I handed manner. Are there enough of
the moralists Of the city who are able
and willing to increase their taxes
an amount sufficient to make up the
i prospective deficit in the city treasury?
! Why was not this moral wave sprung
six months or q year ago by the po-
lice department. and fair warning CIV
( en- to the helpless city council and
all yiolators OF the law that on such
date in the future there would be
no more behind-the-back business. and
that all gambling would be absolutely
| porhiblted? II the law can te enforced
now 1t could have been enforced then,
and the council would have had ample
\ opportunity TO arrange the city's af-
! fairs TO meet the changed condition
( No the question at issue now cannot
( be treated as a moral one-lt is one
Of business, and nothing ease. and
must be 50 dealt with. Does a single |
intelligent person in the community
believe for one moment that after the |
council meats tomorrow night, and |
fails to pass the license ordinance |
that gambling PLACES IN Astoria will |
remain closed? Is II believed that ar |
ter the present little tempest in g. |
teapot is over that gambling places |
win remain permanently closed? TT ere |
Is no buiness man or other well In
formed person who can think 50. The |
evil Of gambling never has been
/ stopped. and probably never will be
entirely wiped out in this or any other
community
Now a few words on the moral side |
Of the matter. II a wolf goes about
in Sleeps clothing, It is none the less
wolf. Does II blacken the character
OF the town more 10 openly control and /
! regulate such evils than to have II
said abroad that Astoria is the worst
town OF It's size in the union. and that
II yOu stand in" you can commit any
kind Of dsviltry you please here with
impunity? That has been AstoI1a's
reputation. Some improvement has
bean made In the last tire. years,
It is true. but how much more could
b. done IL the people were IL earnest
and meant what they said in public
and especially at mass meetings held
in churches. Don't you know Mr Ed
itor that within 4 stones throw Of
your office the very worst form Of
gambling, 80 far as its tendency TO
demOraiize the young man is con-
cerned, is carried on day and night?
If We really want reform, Let US 20
about it in the right way-1n sys-
tsmatic plan, and stick 10 It, and make
1t cover every phase and form Of evil.
The subject Is not new one: the
sages Of all ages have grappied " ith
1t. and the devil still lives. and ac-
cording to the good book, will continue
to pass to and fro through the world
until the end Of time. The best we
can do is TO keep things as pure as
their nature will permit, keep I'd the
daily fight, and, above all, see that
our own pathway is properly clean.