The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-22

All Glasses of Society Are Affected by tn
Mania for PLAY

From the Berliner Tageblatt.
A recent coldblooded murder in the
doorway of gambling resort in Ma
drid gives a correspondent in that city
cause to describe at length the almost
unchecked mania for play that exists
in the Spanish capital and some of its
results. 1t is generally agreed, says the
correspondent, that gambling has never
before been so widespread and open in
Madrid as at present under the pious
rule OF the conservative ultramontanes.
Ana that is saying good deal, for play
mas always been one of the great curses
or Madrid, not only on account of the
indifference of the police, but also on
account of the inherent disposition of
the Spaniards towards this occupation
which, to many, is almost their only
means of support. The type of gambler
who sees in play only a means of re-
iaxaton, and who carries it on only
as a sport, is almost unknown in Spain
| and quiteso in Madrid. The majority
of players visit the club with about the
same object as they who buy lottery
tickets-they want to get money on
which to live and amuse themselves
For great as is the poverty in Madrid
still greater is the desire for amuse-
ments of all sorts, and much greater
the indisposition to earn honestly the
necessary money. For this reason the
majority of players include all sorts
| of people, from officials who want to
double their monthly salaries in order
| to free themselves from all sorts of
| debts, down TO students whose small al
| lowances do not permit them to go to
| the bull fights, and who take to gam
| bling in the hope of making enough to
| crafty themselves.
There are besides a great number of
people who actually make living off
the mania of others for play. 1t has
| been remarked that out of 500 900 peo-
pie in Madrid, fully $4,000 do not know
when they get up in the morning how
| and where they will get enough to eat
during the day. OF these at least
5000 find the answer to this problem in
| and through gambling, as bankers and
croupiers. porters and walters and serv-
ants in the aristocratic gambling clubs,
as usurers and blackmailers by profess
sion, as touts and informers They
| form a considera BILE class that has to
be reCkoned with. Politically they are
able to carry a doubtful election for the
men they favor, all the more easily
| since the respectable people are likely
| in Madrid to stay away from the polls
If this mob is opposed to a cand date
| there is danger of all sorts of disorder.
! petards and bombs may be thrown. the
| city and country brought into an DIP.
| roar
| Moreover, Ut is no secret now SUCH a n
| occurrence comes about as a result oil
| gambling. With very few exceptions
there is no organization here that does
not, with more or less decorum, carry
| on gambling. Why? For the simple
reason that there are not clubmer
enough in Madrid or with money
enough, to support a club house with
| all the eXtravagant luxury desired
with all the conveniences demanded
| For relatively low annual dues they OK
pect splendid saloons, servants in liv
cry, a library with all the newest book!
| and a sumptuouS buffet and all sorts c
| other things. There is no other wa,
than to rent out the gambling priv
| lege. This is even the case with tn
| club of the political leaders: the money
| that comes in through this mean!
serves partly for election purposes anC
partly for subsidzing newspapers.
Thus it can be understood why tht
difficulty of suppressing gambling is
almost insuperable and why 1t is Z
serious problem. As a matter of fact
no governor of Madrid has retained hi!
post long who has seriously set to worl
to enforce the law against gambling
Politicians and influential personages
| whose clubs have been interfeTed will
intrigue against him: so do the police
who lose a large part of their income
and so do all the hungry horde just de
sCribed that is ready for anything eX
cept regular and honest industry