Iron County register., 1899-08-10
GAMBLING MADRID's CURSE
All Glasses of Society Are Affected O
BY an UnEovernable Mania
for Play.

A recent cold-blooded murder in the
doorway of a gambling resort in Madrid
gives correspondent in that city cause
to describe at length the almost un-
crecked mania for play that exists in
the Spanish capital and some of its re-
suits. 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 ultra
montanes. And that is saying a good
deal, for play has always been one of
the great curses of Madrid, not only on
account of the indifference of the po-
lice, but also on account of the inher-
ent disposition OF the Spaniards toward
this occupation, which, to many, is al
most their only means of support. The
type of gambler who sees in play only
a means of relaxation and who carries
it on only as a sport is almost unknown
in Spain and quite so in Madrid. The
majority of players visit the club with
about the same object as they who buy
lottery ytickets-theywa 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
allowances 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 500,0 900 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 $4,000 at
least 5000 find answer to this problem
in and through gambling, as bankers
and croupiers, porters and walters and
servants in the aristocratic gambling
clubs. as usurers and blackmailers by
profession, as touts and informers.
They form a considerable class that
has to be reckoned with. Politically
they are able to carry doubtful elec-
Iion 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 candi-
date there is danger of all sorts of dis
order; petards and bombs may be
thrown, the city and country brought
into an uproar.
Moreover it is no secret how such an
occurrence comes about as a result of
gambling. With very few exceptions
there is no organization here that does
not, with more or less decoruIn, carry
On gambling. Why? For the simple
reason that there are not clubmen
enough in Madrid or with money
enough, to support clubhouse with all
the extravagant luxury desired, with
all the conyeniences demanded. For
relatively low annual dues they eX-
pect splendid salons, servants in liv-
cry, library with all the newest books,
a sumptuous buffet and all sorts Of
other good things. There is no other
way than to rent out the gambling priv
ilege. This is even the case with the
club of the political leaders; the money
that comes in through this means
serves partly for election purposes and
partly for subsidizing newspapers.
Thus it can be understood why the
difficulty of suppressing gambling is
almost insuperable and why it is Sc
rious problem. As a matter of fact, no
governor of Madrid has retained his post
long who has seriously set to work to
enforce the law against gambling. Pol
iticians and influential personages
whose clubs have been interfered with
intrigue against him; so do the police,
who lose large part of their income,
and so do all the hungry horde just de-
scribed that is ready for everything
except regular and honest industry
To OrehlaTt