The San Francisco call., 1899-09-10
A SMOOTH SCHEME.
Southern Portion Of the County
TO Be Kept in IqnOra nee.


MEMO PARK, Sept. s.-The publicity
given by The Can to the scheme OF the
gamblers who are trying to get q town
which they can control by the trick Of
Incorporating Colma is bearing good
fruit. 1t is not until the whole OF San
Mateo County has been travelled over in
search OF facts that the smoOthness of
the gamblers still hunt can be fully ap-
preCiaued. Hundreds Of voters can be
found in the county who had absolutely
no intimation OF the threatened danger
until they read The Call The conditions
were favorable TO the gamblers The
Beard Of Supervisors meets at Redwood
City, far from the people most directly
concerned, and il would generally be safe
70 predict that no one from CoIma would
90 TO Redwood City 10 attend a board
meeting If the people of the southern
portion Of the county could have been
kept in ignorance OF what was going on
no one from that section would have been
on hand 10 protest when a protest would
be effective But there is no such general
ignorance now. The electric light has
been turned on, and there are now euer-
getic and pUbuc-spirtted men in every
town in the county who are willing and
anxious to do what they can TO prevent
the consummation Of the proposed infamy
a. Colma-
From the foregoing il should not be In
ferred that the danger is over by any
means Only the first of the necessary
steps have been taken, this being the
giving of notification 70 the public. That
this viii lead TO organized opposition 10
the gamblers is probable. But the fact
remains that there is no organized OppO-
sition yet-ouly an awakening. Still much
appears TO have been accomplished in
short time. The Calls representative has
found men Of high standing II their COM
muuities who Will not shrink from prom
inent opposition 10 the gambling gang.
The several members OF the Board OF Su-
pervisOrs may be sure that they viii nave
10 face well-iufOrned and angry conStitu-
encfes if they dare to be recreaut to the
public welfare in this matter.
Politicians. business men, Clergymen-
all are amazed that any one should have
the hardihOod 70 propose TO make San
Mateo County the dumping ground OF the
gamblers and their disreputable follow
ing. The Supervisors will not be able TO
say that they did not comprehend what
the proposed Incorporation really means,
for sufficient information viii come 10
them from many sources TO make that
plea futile if they should plead lack Of
knowledge.
In this town Rev. Mr.. Parsons, the pas
tor OF the Episcopal church. to-day prom
ised 10 see Supervisor McEyoy and talk
the matter over with him. Mr.. Parsons
is very strongly opposed to gambling, and
said that he would exert his influence 70
prevent extension at COtLld. EfS UlQ
not know whether a petition 70 the Su-
pervisors would be the best means 10
adopt 70 prevent the turning OF Colma
into gambling town. II might be Just
as well TO have influence brought to bear
upon each Supervisor in his own district.
He does not believe that there is any re-
putable citizen in MenIo Park VINO VIII
favor having a gambling plant at Colma-
z. c. Waingartner. one OF the active
business men Of MEMO Park, spoke very
energeticalIy about the Colma scheme:
TO make a dumping-ground of San
MateO County for crooks and cutthroats
believe the Supervisors will assist any one
TO perpetrate. our county board has
generally been 2 pretty square lot II Nc
EvOy should do anything Of the sort L
VIII be very much surprised The gam
blers would not be Of any advantage TO
the county. The Colma taxes would be
town tax would be added to the State
and county taxes
Few OF the weather. dwellers at Menlo
were at home to-day Doubtless they
all viii agree with the position of Tim
Othy Hopkins, who said and concisely
that he was opposed 10 any scheme that
would turn Colma into a gamblers town.
Supervisor MCEvOy was in Santa Cruz
all day NJ f. Duff of the old time con-
cern of Duff and Doyle, the largest bust
ness house in the town, said that he cer-
tainly was against the gamblers.
President David Starr Jordan Of Stan
ford University was interviewed this
morning He said:
Il do not know any Of the facts con-
ceFning the reported movement that the
gamblers are making for the incorpora-
ton Of Colrna as a town. II the purpose
is 10 pave the way for the opening of
gambling games AT COlma and the en-
coura ragement Of gambling, you can say
that I am most emphatically opposed 70
any action upon the part of the eonstt-
tuted authorities that can aid anything
of the sort The poolrooms everywhere
are evil. San Francisco seems determined
to drive out the gambling element from
It's borders as much as possible, and the
legislation already adopted is apparently
attended with excellent results. San Ma
teo County is the seat of culture and en-
Ifghtened social life. In my opinion the
county as a whole cannot wish to encour-
age gambling All moral, educational and
social forces ought to be enlisted in op-
nosition TO the gambling evil. Stanford
fTnfversity is not in San Mateo County
b1It some of its professors are citizens of
that county and take a lively interest in
tts welfare II the Incorporation of Colma
iS frteuded to promote gambling interests
all other interests should be against it."
Rev. Mr. Maar. the congregational
clergyman at Redwood City, said last
evening that he thought that petition
10 the Supervisors asking the board not
10 give the gamblers the chance they
seaE at CoIrna would be well. The fact Is
t1af no such petition has yet appeared in
the county. While there is srnai army