The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-05-21
Mr.. ROWLANO'S SERMON
DECLINES TO PLAY NICKEL IN.
SLOT MACHINE.
Draws u Vivid Picture OF Ruin
Wrought by Gaming and Ap.
peals for Suppression.

The following Ia resume NJ the SER
mon delivered al the Methodist church
Sunday night by Rev. y. r. Rowland.
The subject was AN Ordinance Licens-
ing Slot Machines" In the series OF
sermons on "Chy Problems" His re-
marks on the text. who Is sufficient
for these things" led up 10 his address
on local conditions concerning which be
said In part:
The evil Of which we speak can only
be successfully dealt with at the com
mencement or all evil passions gamb-
ling " the most subtle, The boy may
be saved from cIltlvatlng the pagsion
but can scarcely he reformed after the
habit IN once fixed. The victim Of al
most any other vice may weary OF II
with advancing years. bat not 10 with
the gambler. The passion grows with
every indulgence and refuses to be held
In check by even loss Of bodily vigor
Starting at first with small stake and
played for amusement the passion
grows until the demon encircles him
in Its deadly coils. FOR which neither
friends. nor yearg. nor experience N
loss nor struggle for manhood can re-
lease him AMI AT last ne goes down in
10 the grave into which often fortune.
friends and character have gone before
him. II la the fruitful source Of other
crimes and lts whole track Is covered
with ruin and shame. No respectable
gentleman. 10 Fay nothing OF a Chris
tlan, will publicly defend f. Its ex-
istence IN any city or town Is q scan
dal This Is one of the evils thai IL
deeply rooted In our city. Morality
loyalty 10 the ut interests Of our city's
prosperity ana religion alike demand
that check be put upon q.
This is the problem that is before our
CITY council tonight They may de-
ceive themselves by thinking II Is al
right 10 lei the curse curse on. Lack
Ing the moral courage 10 forbid the evil
they may try 10 hide behind a techni-
cal pOin. OF law. They pass the ordl-
nance AMI 80 declare The machines in
nOcent harmless things: but, however
nicely the skin n the sheep sets on
the back of the wolf. he still r.mains
n wolf. LET the common council pass
the ordinance and they put blot up
on this cl,y's record that II will take
wears 10 efface besides making for
themselves a record. they will go down
In history az the council that licensed
lnIdulty and their children's children
VIII read that record and blush with
shame 20 think that their perhaps 9TH
erwisr noble sIr.s dared insult the de-
cency NJ this city and 'he state ~ Ore
gon by licensing evil
There IL state law that saws these
machines shall not be used That law
was passed for the protection Of the
youth ami no exception was made OF the
youth ~ Astoria. But Notwithstanding
the state law the council propose TO
license. Bv what authority? BY au-
thorIty given 20 the city Of Astoria In
her charter Now the city charter. sec
tIon 2S. article r. upon which they base
their claim. reads az follows: The
council has power and authority with
In the city 81 Astoria 10 license, tax.
regulate and restrain blrrnoms and
shops. gaining and gambling
houses. and places wh ere liquOr Is
sold. and 20 regulate nickcl-in-the-slot |
marh'nes." But this power 20 regu- |
hate these things mentioned In section |
IS L. delegated 20 this city under GER |
tain conditions aal limitations, The |
are given In section 80 OF the |
charter. which SAYS: ''The pnwer and !
authority given 10 the council BY Sec
tlon IS can only be exercised or en- !
forced by ordinance. unless otherwise |
provided anc a majority uf the coun- |
rll may pass any ordinance or make |
anv bylaw not repugnant to the laws !
NJ the United States Or n this state.
etc"
Now the case seems plain: section 3S |
NJ the city chart ar SAYS the council |
nf the city Of Astoria may regulate |
theslot machines; section 80 |
says: Yes, that Is right, but the coun-
'N must do Z bv an ordinance and |
that ordinance must he NJ such a ma
iure as not 10 CoHhict with any law
n the state Of Oregoa. Now the state
aw SAYS the nlckel-in-the-slot machine
shall not run. The city charter says
II YOU license the slot machine your
ordinance doing SO must not conflict
with state law. Now I venture the
assertion, here Is little task that will
.aN the powers of our councilmen and
'l'v attorneys to frame and word that
ordinance 80 that IL will not conflict
with the Proebstel law. I hope, when