The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-30
THE SLOT MACHINES
Rev. J. I. sooy. inquiries Why They
Have Not Been Raided by the Po-s

Rev. J. L. sooy inquiries Why They
Have Not Been Raided by the Po-
lice Department.
To the Editor of the IntellIgencer.
Z S1R:-Why is it that the police de-
partment has not raided the slot ma
chimes lately2 The time$is fully up.
Last year raids were made in May and Z
December; but the first of August is i
near and no raid has been made thus Il
far during this year.
Is 1t because another Judge jackson
has been discovered. who has decided I
the law against the machines "uncon-
stitutional?" tried hard last winter
to find all the Jacksons. but the city
officials may have one in hiding some-i.
where.
Or. is 1t because the slot machines
are oil gone. and the chief OF polica
cannot find any in operation? Perhaps
five or six of the councilmen who are
saloonkeepers. will loan him their eye-5
glasses.
I Or is 1t because the chief imagines
that the Federation of Churches think
they are all destroyed, and he does NOT
deem 1t expedient to raid them now
and thus excite the preachers in such
hot weather? Well, the weather is hot,
and no telling what the discovery OF
machines stu in operation might bring
upon the ministerial nerve
Or Is 1t because there is to be CITY
election in the near future and the pre-
sent city government VIII need the
votes of the slot machine lovers? Yes,
votes will be needed!
Or is it because the chief himself
wants the votes of the church people,
and is simply waiting to make a big
raid near election time and put out
temporarily, NIL the slot machines, thus
deceiving the elect" into the belief
that he is suddenly regenerated or an.
gelized? A school-boy was once asked
to write n sentence with the word <
"oblate" in it. He wrote the following:
John was oblate at the polls" When
asked his nearing, he said he was
hattened at the polls Yes, more
than one man has been fiattened at the
polls In a city election.
Or. finally, is 1t because the mayor
and chief are taking much-needed
vacation? This is the time of vaca-
lions. take one myself In August, but
If certain city officials win only patient
~ wait, perhaps lonS-suffering peo-
pie will reward them later on, with a
good, long vacation.
Now. the fact Is, the situation ia a
serious one. The public will recollect
that. In long paper addressed to the
Federation of Churches, some months
ago. by the mayor and chief of police.
1t was pointed out that In raising thes
revenue OF the city, the police depart,
ment We're required" to produce IN
wards of $1,000 from fines and fees IN
police court"
And we were told, Furthermore, that
the slot machine matter Is one which
VIII regulate ITSELF" and that ats rela. !
ton to the revenues of the city, under
the present conditions and customs.
makes the question one of carrying out
n business arrangement" Now, has
the slot machine matter regulated It.
self? Is there an official understand
Ing. that without fines" or pulls" II
is to be henceforth n permanent in
stitution among US? Or. can 1t be pos
sible that our officials are neglecting
the business arrangements" Of tho
city in not pulling" the operators Of
said machines? Is there not great dam
ger Of crisis In city finances II these
sources of revenue are to be neglected?
In solving the problem. the assistance
OF the Federation of Churches which
was SO very acceptable to our city off.
cials last winter and spring, is still Of.
Tered without money and without
price" III sooy q
Wheeling, July %.
ss -e-S-r 500
7 .