Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-14
IN HELENA,

of the anti-gambling law has brought out
the fact that the city of Helena is largely
under the influence of the knights of the
green cloth. 1t was known when the
present administration of the capital city
went into power that leading gamblers
took a hand in the election, and it was
generally understood that the fraternity
had it's innings when the counting of the |
votes at the municipal election revealed
the verdict of the people Gamblers
from Butte and elsewhere did all in their
power to secure a city administration in
Helena that would be favorable to their
interests, and it seems they did not labor
in vain.
No doubt the Carr gambling bill was
in contemplation at the time Helena
and Butte were to be depended upon to
mold public sentiment into the idea tina
as gambling could not be suppressed it
would be the better plan to license it and
replenish the municipal treasury! With
a wide-open policy in each of these cities
it was doubtless believed that the legis-
lative assembly could be controlled in
the interests Of the gamblers. The fol-
lowing from the Helena Herald shows the
deplorable condition into which the poll
tics of the capital city has fallen, and the
need of vigorous action to counterfeit the
influence of the powers that be in that
misguided bailiwick:
How many gamblers have ever been
prosecuted or acquitted in Helena? Not
one. Is this because there is and has
been no gambling in Helena since the
law went into force? Not at all. There
are and have been several notorious
gambling resorts in this city for over
a year. 1t is the common knowledge of
every Well-informed man in Helena. Do
, the officers know of it? OF course they
do. These games have been run with
impunity almost openly and the officers
whose duty it is to suppress them are
perfectly familiar with the facts. They
know where these gaming brothels are
located and have known Of such loca-
ton from the start. The officers charged
with the duty Of suppressing this vice
are all the peace officers of the county
and city. The sheriff and his deputies,
the mayor, the chief of police, the ser
geant of police, the several policemen,
| Justices, and the constables, and the
county attorney and his deputy. Why
have they not even attempted to enforce
the law? For two reasons: one, political;
and the other, criminal. The gamblers
have taken a great interest in politics
ever since the law was enacted. The
have had their candidates for mayor,
sheriff and county attorney. They make
and unmake public officials. The candi-
dates are interviewed before the election,
and especial pledges are demanded and
given before the gamblers give money
influence and votes sufficient to procure
the election of the candidates. Then these
same candidates, who always desire re-
election or other political favors in the
future. are compelled to deal very leni-
emily with this class Of law-breakers les,
they lose their money and influence II
future campaigns. Hence they fail to en-
force the law. They fail to make even al
attempt to do so.
This vigorous ~arraignment Of the city
officials of Helena is well deserved and
will meet the approval of the best citizens
of that municipality, who ave too lat
discovered the mistake that was mad,
in placing the present city administra
ton in power. Through as vile a cit,
election as ever disgraced the state
reform" administration was given tn
reins, and now the man in the moo hold
his nose when he passes over Helena
r exclude it's municipal odors.. 1t is prob
n able tina the city will be deodorized a
t the next election of a mayor.
But it appears that the wide-open gam
d bling policy is not the only offense al
S tributable to the present government {
the city over the range. The grand jur
n that has been in session sorne weeks ha
e made its final report and has this to sa
about the city Jail in Helena:
We inspected the city Jail at the cit
hall, in the city of Helena. We fOun
some six prisoners, all of whom wei
e standing for lack of chairs or bencht
to sit upon. We found the jail col,
dark, damp. dirty. dingy and ill smel
n ing. The beds upon which the prison