The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-03-05
Asking That Gambling in the
City Be Stopped.
433 VOTERS SIGN 1T
A Number of Gentlemen Are Listened
To.-They Came As Friends.
Committee Appointed

culatlnS the petition with the view
OF securing enough signatures to
demonstrate to the city council and
the board OF county commissioners
| that tn people did not favor gambling
appeared before the city council at
their melting last night anu present
ed the petition.
Among those who visited the coun-
Gil chamber in support of the move
ment were Messrs. Avery, Sinclair.
logan Pomeroy and Revs. Fisher,
Falls and Morris.
MY. Logan, in response to the re-
quest CT Mayor Griffin to know what
| could be done or if they had any bus
| mess to bring before the council,
took the floor and in a forcible man.
ner stated the position occupied by
the petitioners. He said that the Pc
tition had been signed by 433 citizens
who were voters OF the city, besides
d little over 500 women. They were
there simply to ask the council to see
| that the police officers enforce the
| laws against the gamblers. He said
| that there were rumOrs to the effect
that the city government was col
iecLing what is pleased to be called
fines for gambling. but said he did
not know that it was true, and then
made an earnest plea for the enforce
ment OF the gambling law and recit-
ed the duties of officers as provided
under the present law.
| If it is true that the city govern
ment IS engaged in receiving money
.om The gamblers, thus affording
them protection, it is burning
sname," he said. and places the city
officers in the position of compound
ing a felony.
1t is said that public sentiment was
in favor of gambling, that the ma
jority of the people wanted it and
the petition was presented to show
that that is not true as the petition
contained the names of a majority
.. the voters of the CITY,
Judge Pomeroy followed covering
about the same ground Mr.. Logan
had covered. The county and city
officers should cooperate. 1t was not
. political move in any sense of the
word" and he pointed to the fact
that none Of the gentlemen present
ing the petition We're the leaders of
tao republican party. Newspapers he
said had asked why don't those
who have fled the petition, file in
formation against the gamblers? 1t
be necessary to ask the sheriff and
was" he said, started a week ago,
the men who circulated it devoting
what time they could from their or.
binary vocations. The petition show
ed clearly that the voters wanted nc
| Ill 4 +1,o% I,
20 or 25 had refused to sign. Strang
ers coming into the city looking for
locations would not bring their fam
ilies."
Rev. Morris, in quiet but fore
ible manner state his position. He
said that he did not like to see the
laws disregarded and trampled under
foot unchallenged. The wisest thing
to do would be to exercise the au
thority and enforce the law. He had
only been here a few months, but
had seen enough to know that it was
a shame and disgrace. for children
and families to be subjected to such
sights and that the condition of af
fairs impressed strangers very un-
favorably."
Rev. Fall said: Much is said about
the weight of pubnc sentiment gov.
erning. If l was an official and could
not enforce the law, l would say,
cannot do so, and then resign, but
1 would enforce the law if l had to
do it behind gatling gun. Peti
tons should not have to beg officials
1nere lies the law, 40 your duty. You
VIII have the men and women behind
YOU"
Mr.. Burns then spoke in defense
of the city and wanted it understood
that the city officials were not accept
ing hush money from gamblers, as
he had understood Mr.. Logan to say
AS far as people being fined for con
Quoting disorderly houses, it was
4 done under city ordinance which
covered the case. The books were op
en- and anyone who desired could read
ny find that every cent collected went
into the city treasury. The gentlemen
who compose the city board of alder.
men. not a man could say were in
any measure dishonest.
Mr.. Logan responded briefly and
disclaimed any such intention or ref
erence to the integrity of the citi
zens who represented the citys in
terests.
l Alderman Burns then said that the
petition should be examined carefully
and moved that it be referred to a
committee of three, consisting of two
members of the board and the mayor.
i Alderman >Smithers said that gam
bling was too wide open and should be
stopped and urged that a committee
be instructed to report at the arliest
possible moment.
Judge Pomeroy spoke again and
urged that there be no delay.
| Mr.. Avery was recognized and
said I'VE come as friends not as en-
emies. We come with $50 names,
showing that the people are behind
the movement; $50 people who will
be mad as hornets if the petition is
not given attention. 1t is not a pc
litical move. l have repeatedly told
people that the city officials
were all right if the PEG
| pie backed them up, and as