The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-10
AMBL1NG-HOusE EVIL

houses.
GAMBLING-HOUsE EVIL.
The gambling-house evil, like that of the
social evil, caters to all classes of the
community, and both are literally sup
ported Ly men recruited from the most
cultivated, wealthy and prominent walks
OF the. The ''pool-room," the crap
game" the '.policy-shop" is run in every
part OF the city. The customers are
legion. They exist at the expense of a
liberal patronage. The newsboY, the
oitice-boy, the professional gambler, all
classes have their favorite resorts. To
suppress one means to create another.
They spring up overnight.
Places like Canticld's, adjoining Del
monico's cafe; Reeds adjoining the
Hoffman House, are only open to men of
fashion and recognized wealth and posi-
ton. After the theatres they are crowded
with men bearing Eonored names Their
appointments are costly, their supperS
excellent, their attention and courtesy
unmatched. Men risking fortunes, mil
lions, on the ups and downs of the stock,
cotton and produce market play faro or
roulette, rsking a few thousands, as a
mere amusement. The fever of gambling
consumes them by day and by night.
The most mammoth gambling establish
ment in New York city is the Stock
Exchange. Here the game is played for
high and low stakes. When the REFORM
ers begin il earnest they must first put
the seal OF disapproval upon the licensed
gamblers of the Exchange
These two evils, colossal and destruc-
tive, rise like huge, menacing spectres,
over th&young and Old but they appeal
to men whose natures respond 1t is not
the reformer who is needed; ii is the
degeneration. After years Of experience
observation and study | am prepared to
state that these evils have kept pace with
the development of the city, and, COM
paratively speaking, New York is no
worse to-day than it was when Jefferson
wrote.
THAT BIG Steel DEAL.
Wall Street has fairly recovered. from
the surprise Pierpont Morgan gave it
when he launched the Steel Trust Wall
Street RECEIVERS rapidly from all surprises
President Gates. of Federal Steel fame
could not impress Morgan by his blue
striped shirt, his cattle-yard manners, or
his desire ITO let the boys in' or "out,
as the case might have been. Whether
King Morgan desired to save Gates
friends from the antics of steel companies
stocks out of kindly regard for them,
or to save the water in the stocks from
being shaken by feeble and nervous
hands, is a mooted question: Bubbles
are being blown big and round bigger
and rounder than ever before. and this
last steel combination OF properties is
one Of the biggest on record. 1t is
exposed to two nSers-dsntegration
rem its own cnornity and the wrath of
the people The programme of reducing
expenses by cutting off employees in all
the minor grades OF labor of making
eNacting contracts for supplies by
destroying competition among buyers, in
tact, upon the very grounds of the argtl-
ments advanced for the unifcation of
interest, will create a reaction so deep
rooted and widespread that it will invoke
hostile legislation. OF the S1,300o00 of
alleged property .alues how much repre-
sents the cash actually invested?
To Indicate how sensitive to every breath
these monster corporations are, it is suf-
fiCien to say that the stock OF he Ameri-
can Smelling and Refining Company went
up and down upon the mere statements of
II. Fl. Rogers position toward the COM
pany Mr.. Rogers opposes the CONSOLE
dation with NJ. Gugsenheim Sons: in
fact, he was the only director who voted
against the resolution. The Street has the
greatest confidence in Mr.. Guggenheim,
as the irm is favorably reorted as always
protecting its shareholders.
T. T. RYAN STROKE
Thomas F. Ryan is in the city. eated
with his success in combining the trac-
ton companies Of Chicago. Mr. Ryan
has behind him not only the famous
Clique composed Of William c. Whitney,
stephen Eikins and Anthony Brady, but
the Morton Trust Company and Pier
pont Morgan & Co. Mr.. Ryan is con-
ceded to be one of the ablest re-oreanizers
and fnanciers in the Street. Twenty
Years ago he was a 'Atwo-dollar broker
on the Exchange. James K. keene 81
lently walks up and down the small room
i'll the brokerage office Of J. Talbot Taylor
& CO.. and retain his old-time grip on the
active stocks. Mr. Taylor is his son-in-
law. Samuel @. Brown, president of the
Tide Water Oil Company, is one Of the
most reccntly-arrived magnates i'll the
street. He mas Won for himself repu-
tation for fair dealing and for great abili-
ty. I. \. Selisman is a man worth
watching. Ills influence is growing fast