The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-18
The SLOT MACHINES.

and Chief Of Poltce-Ca44s 1or Ae-
ton by Business Men.
r. ,be Editor OF the Intelligencer.
sfR;-when the ministers, belonging
90 the federation of Churches got up
the petition to the mayor and chief Of
nol,ce. praying for the adjustment of
,se slot machine, very few. If any one,
thought there would be anything serl-
we grow out Of 1t. It was thought by
many OF the good peple Of the city, and
,ho ministers themselves, that the
MAYOR and chief Of police would grant
~. neution and thank the ministers
end other petitioners for their interest
and help in the enforcement Of the
laws.
Was not the mayor elected largely on
the strength Of his reputation for being
a GOOD man, and one who would bring
about n better state Of public affairs in
our city? And the same thing may be
sa,d OF the chief Of police. Shortly af-
tor their election, If the papers Of Pitts
hurgh and our city can be relied on,
,bey visited Pittsburgh to learn reform
Methods for the avowed purpose of
leaning Up the city. Many of the cid-
zaps will remember the articles referred
10 After waiting a long while for the
promised reform, the ministers evident
IL thought they needed encouragement
and help. They. therefore, got up a
nettIon asking for the abollshment Of
one OF the most Hagrant violations Of
the city's ordinances, This petition
was signed by over LOO men, who not
only asked for the enforcement of the
ordinance against gambling devices, but
also pledged them their assistance in
enforcing 1t.
Now what was the reply Of the mayor
and the chief of police, these men who
started out to be reformers, to this
netI,Ion? After stating that they had
made some attempts to have the ordl-
napces of the city against some Of the
worst evils enforced. and failing on
account of the upper court, they stated
that they had come to the conclusion
that 1t was the best policy to regulate
the vices Of gambling. prostitution, ETC.,
for revenue, and that this was really
REQUIRED OF the police department by
the financial customs of the city. The
reader can turn to their answer and
see that this Is the essence of their re-
ply, 1 think 1t has been very clearly
shown that their troubles with the up
psr court we're not such as should have
discouraged and turned back true re-
formers, and also that the financial
customs of the city do not make it
obligatory upon the police department
to raise any amount OF revenue from
fines on vice. Why these men who
started out as jealous reformers so
easily became discouraged and quit and
changed their policy entirely, is not
known to the writer. The reasons they
gave are wholly inadequate to account
for the change, II the spirit Of reform
ever entered their souls. They must
have other reasons. but what they are
they have not made known to Jour cor
respondent.
Bu; your correspondent does know,
and every Intelligent citizen must know
also. that the position they have taken,
nancy that Of regulating such vices
for revenue. ia clearly contrary to the
laws Of our city Their position cannot
be defended on the basis OF law. moral
i.y or religion. And ! do not believe
any ei,Izea who has any regard for his
reputation win try to defend it in pub
tic print over his own signature. No
one has yet attempted to do so in SC far
as my knowledge goes.
Can this city. that is anxious to grow
and expand its trade. afford to have
the news go out over the whole land,
as ii has. that the mayor and chief OF
police absolutely refuse to enforce the
ordinances OF the city. in their spirit
and according to their letter, against
gambling and prostitution, etc? Why,
even New Orleans the worst gamb-
ling cursed city in the country. has
abolished the slot machine: so has, Gin
cinnau. Detroit. Chicago. etc. Can this
city afford to have the news 90 out to
the world that they are protected
here? II city is to attract inhabi-
tHnts and trade 1t must have some re-
gard for Its honor.
But this is not the worst phase OF this
controversy. The city council has vir-
tually sanctioned the position Of these
oflcers. The action of the second
branch OF the council on January 9th.
virtually said, at is not the duty of the
chief OF police and his deputies to en-
force the ordinances OF the city" for II
It is not his duty to enforce one OF the
most specific of all the ordinances, 1t Is
not his duty to enforce any.
Now let us look this action squarely
in the face. The people, through their
representatives. have made such laws
as they thought necessary for the well
fare OF the city, these laws are in har-
mony with those of our state and of all
the states, and they have also created
an expensive, executive department, or
police department, to see that those
laws are executed. and now, through
their representatives, they say: II is
not the duty Of the chief and his depu-
ties to enforce these ordinances. That.
to an honest thinking man. has a bad
look. II looks as though the citizens
Of this city were either a set Of silly
children playing at government, or that
they are a lot Of knaves. trying to give
Tho. Imnrnaailnn TINT nrnnertv- virtue