The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-26
MAYOR AND THE PREACHERS.
HE DOESN'T PROPOSE TO TALK
ANY MORE ABOUT GAMBLING.

\
Preachers and Reiterates His PO-
sitiom About Not knowing Any
thing About Gambling in the City.
He Thinks the Attacks Are Being
Made 10 Reflect Discredit Upon His
Ndministration-A Alderman Who
Disagrees with the Mnyor-No Or
dinnnce Needed. He Says.
Mayor Myers has decided that he will
make no further reply 20 the remarks of
the preachers and others upon the subject
of gambling in Savannah, and his duty as
public official
Il decline to have anything TO say on
the subject" said Mayor Myers, when
seen yesterday by Morning News report
er in reference to The statements of the
ministers in Their Sunday sermons upon
the subject of gambling and their views
of the Mayors position and his duties
IL was evident that the Mayor did not
relish the comments which had been made
upon his position, and he further gave as
his reason for not making a reply IN the
Morning News that it had given 100 much
prominence to The views Of the preachers
and had encouraged them in their agita-
ton of The subject.
Il do not intend to say anything further
about this subject" said the Mayor, 'un-
less some personal attack is made upon
me / have stated my position and nave
nothing to retract IL seems to me that
public official who has spent thirty-three
years of his life in this city should be bet
der aware of the conditions which exist
and the needs and wishes OF the people
than men who have lived here, some only
few months, others one or two years.
The Morning News seems to think other
wise"
There is good deal Of politics in this
agitation" said the Mayor, and II IS evil
denuy The intention TO bring discredH up
on my administration
"Why is il chat this administration has
been singled out for an attack of this
kind?" inquired the Mayor There was
lust as much gambling under the last adj
ministrauon as there is now, and the news
papers and the preachers said nothing
about it. The laws against Sunday liquor
selling are certainly better enforced than
during the last administration.
The Mayor repeated the assertions which
he had made on former occasions that he
had no knowledge of any gambling COINS
on in the city and no authority to sup
press ii if he had. The section of the
code referred to by one Of the minis ers as
giving such authority had been misquoted,
he said. The Mayor has no authority to
act under this section, except upon an af
fdavit from a citizen, he said
ANY citizen who chooses to make an
affidavit under this section will have his
complaint promptly attended to-" he said.
In conclusion, the Mayor reiterated an
other statement formerly made by him
that If Council chose to pass ordinances
for the suppression Of gambling he would
see thet they were enforced.
A member of Council, in discussing May
or Myers position in the matter, said that
he did not think that IL was necessary for
Council to pass any ordinances on the sub
Iect "A simple resolution by Council re-
questing the Mayor to enforce the laws
against gambling is all that is necessary
in my opinion" he said 1T is not a ques-
ton of ordinances. The state laws are
ample and the Mayor is authorized to en-
force them. As Mayor of the city he is
sworn 10 uphold the laws of the state ana
there is no reason why he should discrim-
inate particularly against one set Of
laws, especially when there is an express
demand from a large element of the Citi-
zens that these laws be enforced"
Il think the Mayor is incorrect IN his po.
siton that he does not know of any gamb-
ling going on in the city and is, therefore,
not bound to interfere. If there were
strike on the Ocean Steamship Company
wharVes and the Mayor was notified that
the rioters were threatening serious
trouble he would not wait for the agent of
the company to come before him and make
an affidavit TO the fact, but would prompt
BY notify the superintendent of police to at
once take steps 10 suppress the disorder
1t is childish for the Mayor to say that he
does not know that gambling is going on
in the city when responsible persons, such
as the pastors of churches, have stated
from their pulpits that such is the caseand
that they know il to be true of their own
authority to suppress gambling is unten
able The police force of the city is a part
of the constabulary of the state and
should be used to uphold the laws of the
state. II might just as well be contended
that Savannah is a part of the state.
"As a member of this administration. p"
said the alderman. land believing that its
reputation is at stake l am DESTROYS that
ii should not be placed in the position of
giving comfort and encouragement To
lawbreakers, and l believe the majority of
the board viii sympathize with me in this
view
The Atlanta Constitution Of yesterday
printed the following editorial, under the
heading 1.-The Gambling Dens of Savan-
nah:'
"A recent issue of the Constitution gave
a full and accurate description of the large
scale on which gambling was conducted in
the neighboring city of Savannah. Few
people in other parts of the state were
aware that such wholesale iniquity existed
in any part Of the state, or that it was
taci1y approved by the authorities.
such seems to be the case. however
and while there is no disposition to unfair
ly crldcise the city government of Savan'
nah, it is a subject for congratulation thai
such evils are not present in the life Of
our town. Wherever gambling or any
manner of games OF chance are conducted
in Atlanta. it is outside of the knowledge
of the police officials, and seldom succeed:
In long avoiding detection. The attitude
of the authorities toward anything thai
resembles gambling is shown in the rigid
campaign which has been waged on the
turf exchanges which up TO a few week;
ago fiourished in the city, but which have
since been suppressed by the active agency
of the police. Some citizens even so sc
far as TO say thai these enterprises were
palpably within the letter of the law, anC
should not have been disturbed, but it i
seemingly the intent OF the officials respon.
fl.