Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-08-09

The good work accomplished by the
Eagle In its discussion of the slot
gambling machine evil was made ap-
parent last week when Acting Mayor
Walker ordered the police to confis-
cate all slot machines Of every kind
having gaming feature or attach
ment. The order was n surprising one
and included even the penny" cigar
machines. The device of this clarac.
ter which did not come within the pro.
visions of the order were those known
rs the vending machines. These are
harmless affairs In their way. being
nothing more than "a contrivance for
supplying such articles as roasted pea
nuts. candy. chewing gum. etc. through
a mechanical arrangement similar to
that Of the condemned machines. The
Eagle believes that these too will come
under the ban Of the authorities II the
arguments which are urged against
them are fully sustained. These ar
guments are that the vending machines
do not give as good value for the
money as the stores In the same line
of business. they are an automatic con-
trivance which for the benefit Of one
Individual or corporation interferes
with numberless stores. destroys the
enterprise Of hundreds Of individuals.
deprfves people Of employment and
does no good for anyone except the
owners Of the slot machines.
Third and last 1t II urged that the
manufacture of these machines Il
used as "A blind under which the ban.
ned and obnoxious ones are made here
In Chicago and exported. or. stored for
a favorable opportunity to once more
put them OH the market right here.
II these assertions are maintained
and upheld II IL said they may lead
to rhe absolute prohibition Of the man.
ufacture of all of this class Of slot ma
chimes. and particularly Of the gam
bling ones In this city.
~eA
On the whole however the Eagle
feels that 1t has reason for conglnt-
ulating itself upon the outcome OF Its
fight on the slot gambling nuisance.
This journal invarlable wins In all
Its fights. as It has made 1t u rule never
to enter contest until assured Of the
justice Of its contention and It's ability
to wage fair and strenuous combat.
Ii has rarely. however, won out 50
quickly and so thoroughly as In this
case. One week ago last Saturday the
Eagle contained an article with the
caption War OH slot Machines" Two
days later Acting Mayor Walker gave
the orders to cOnfscate the obnoxious
machines. contents and all. All OF
which by the way goes to show that
however people may differ with Mr
Walker In politics or otherwise, 1t II
certain that he has no hesitation II
going ahead with any plans that ma!
seem to him right; and the incident fur
thcr demonstrates that Mr.. Walker II
n close reader Of the Eagle for whicl
he Is to be commended.
~8A
Now that the executive officers OF tn
city have taken such long step In th'
direction Of abOllshing this nuisance
Is to he hoped that no effort VIII p'
spared to make the acting Mayors OF
ders as completely and thoroughly ef
fectlve a. possible.
The Eagle desires In this connection
To say that II has information that oi
certain of the lake excursion boats, par
ticulnrly on sunday, this form OF gam
bling Il very generally indulged m
will be remembered that under Tor
mer Chief OF Police gambling of 9th
or kinds on these boats was put an eh'
TO by n resort 10 heroic measures whicI
proved most effective, and there Is n
reason why this kind of gambling CONF
not be also put down In the same way
No doubt il viii be only necessary 4
lent chief of police to the matter I
bring about the desired results in thi
regard.
As to the question Of passing legl'
latiOn through the council or the stat
legislature prohibiting altogether tn
manufacture here Of slot gambling ma
chimes. good lawyers say II Is pra'
tlcal proposition.
II is claimed that If it be Illegal
Sell or 10 operate IA gambling machln
in Chicago, IL certainly Is Illegal
manufacture them.
%e~
Revertlng to the question OF gencri
gambling. since the publication In la
xr.1ls. T.. ,,Ia nf "A lpttar Siuupl "t 'Ol