The San Francisco call., 1899-11-04


been shattered by The Calls expose
of the gambling den on Mason
street. Other establishments in diff
ferent parts of the town have been
threatened and the sure-thing fraternity
is bewailing the publicity Of facts which
will seriously interfere with the scheme
10 make San Francisco a wide-open town.
There is very little question that deep
laid and widely ramifying plot has peen
laid to throw the city open this winter to
the gamblers. The Eastern contingent
has already arrived They have money
and the cleverness Of crooks. One Of the
race tracks is in operation and the other
will open to-day.
San Francisco is naturally the mead
quarters fer the gamblers and never Pc
fore in its history has the city presented
more inviting prospect for gamblers.
good deal Of money is in circulation
Scores of unwary miners have come
money laden from the Northern eolu
fields Thousands Of soldiers represent a
great mass of wealth in the aggregate
and horsemen would not be here II they
were not ready to spend easily money
easily won. 1t is very evident therefore,
that the ci+v presents for the gamesters
an inviting field.
For some time there has been very little
agitation against the gamblers. Ihey
have been quiet and the police very ac-
commodatingly have left them alone. 1t
was during this spell OF apparent mac
tivity that the scheme to throw the city
open 10 the gamblers was hatched. Time
and again efforts have been made,
through the support, Endorsement and en-
couragenent of Dan Burns, Nose Gunst
and others, to give the city over TO the
gamblers and Eastern crooks. Gunst was
formally accused of doing so and for
awhile the attempt was abandoned. Now
Il has been renewed with more than ordl-
nary energy and with more than the
former. prospect of success for the men
who would bring crime as an agent of
the law into the city's life.
1t was natural that a man such as Joe
Harvey should take the initiative. He
enjoys the friendship of the police author
flies, particularly of Chief of Police Lees.
The gambling fraternity know Harvey
and il was 10 be expected that he would
receive encouragement The police know
that Haryey's club" is organized solely
10 cheat the laws and TO legalize a crime.
When the California Club was incorpor-
ated and the establishment on Mason
street was opened not even the dull brains
of the police were ignorant Of the fact
that a nest of gamblers had been made
and that the unwary of the city were to
be preyed upon.
The law, by whose authority the gam
was framed for the benefit and advantage
of fraternal and benevolent institutions
While the letter Of the law is observed. its
spirit is hagrantly violated and there is
very little question that the police can
stop the crimes if they choose to do so.
The farce of an initiation fee is perhaps
one Of the worst phases of the whole
affair. Through it the gamblers compel
every person who enters their den to gam
bic. The five dollars which is paid at the
door must be wagered, as the gamblers
give only gambling chips in exchange for
IL. To carry the imposition still further
every visitor must pay five dollars every
time he enters the place; he must become
a member Of the Club every night he
wishes to buck the tiger"
Since Harvey has begun operations the
other gamblers are up in arms. They
argue that if the friend of Chief of Police
Lees has a right to conduct a faro game
so have they, and they intend to take ad-
vantage of the situation. Fred Merker,
who conceived the idea Of incorporating
q club, is one of the many who intend
TO open gambling houses for the winter.
AIerker was frozen out Of the Mason
street scheme and when he showed a dis
position to make trouble he was offered
position as faro dealer and then 10 per
cent interest in the game He declined
both, and proposes now to venture for
himself
This is but the beginning of what prom
ises TO be a winter carnival Of gaming.
The police are thoroughly informed in
the matter, but they have indicated no
desire or willingness to stop IT, Craps,
roulette. faro and percentage poker are,
from present indications, to be run wide
open. There are games now running at
the Metropole Club, on Post street, at 215
Geary street, and at the cigar stand Of
Henry Harris on Stockton street.
It may be a matter of interest to the
police TO know that two very distin-
guished poker-players from the East are
soon to be added to the attractions Of
the Harris establishment. These gentle
men have the remarkable faculty of never
losing, and it is said that they are COM
ing as direct importations TO try conclu-
slons with FIVE or six men who now indi-
cate a commendable willingness to lose
their money. The poker importatfons are
but two Of many who are speeding to
San Francisco with the hope that nothing