The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1902-11-22
AGAINST SUPPRESSION

Fl. j. Brown, proprietor OF the
Owl, was seen on the subject last
night. 81 am not sure what effect
it would have with u.s." said Mr..
Brown. ut is little early in the
day to think seriously of CAM
paign which will not be fully in
augurated for some time"
He stated that he thought that
under the present form of govern
ment the people should feel salts
fed from progressive standpoint
and believes that not one business
man has ever hesitated from going
into business in Spokane on ac-
count of the system of government
here, and that visitors generally,
who looked into the matter from
a business viewpoint, expressed
themselves as being strongly in
favor of the open system here.
In answering the query as to the
proposed ticket, John CondrOn of
the Warwick said:
I'VE must judge the future by the
past. That the closing of gambling
has materially ruined the business
Interests of other towns no one can
deny. The case of Butte City is a
striking example.
"The gambler himself does not
lose a cent when such an action is
taken, for experience proves that
he then makes just as much money
il not more, than If open gambling
were permitted. The life of the
gamblers in San Francisco is case
in hn Mt VIII
move Is successful in Spokane the
gambling element will not suffer a
particle.
That business houses will be in
jured is beyond the shadow of u
doubt. If this is advertised as a
closed town. venture to say that
the city will be injured to the eX-
tent of falling off In circulation of
more than half a million dollars per
annum. Spokane Is surrounded by
and is the very center of mining
camps, wood camps and an eXtens-
i've farming country, and much
money flowing from those sources
will be driven elsewhere il gambling
is closed.
THAT will hurt ,Ae business men
in Spokane and not the gamblers,
for if they can not make a living
here they can go somewhere else
and leave the business man paddle
his canoe here as well as he can.
The largest payroll in Spokane
at present is that of the gambling
houses. Employees receive s. and
Sc day. This payroll will be cut
off should the anti-vice party sue
coed in winning their point, and no
man can say that cutting off the
best payroll in city is not going
to injure that city very materially.
They are also paying the highest
rent, and if they have to leave this
city on account of the efforts for a
closed town. | am sure that their
landlords will find 1t difficult mat
ter to receive the same rent for
their properties that they receive
now.
|. X. Holland, proprietor of the
Comique theater, said:
"A wide open system under the
present method of administration is
protection to the good people in
J general. Gambling and other pur-
suits conducted under police sur
Vigilance results in a quiet and or
! derby city.
Law breaking as concerns actual
! crime has been at minimum under
! the present arrangements, because
= vice always exists and will no mat.
ter whether the system is wide open
! or closed
Mr.. Harry Green Of the Club said
"Thcre is scarcely n business
! man in this town who wishes to see
these places closed up, These
houses have the largest payrolls in
: town, pay the heaviest rents and IN
many other ways contribute to the
substantial prosperity of the town
5 The people who attend the va
riOus places of amusement are Drin
} cipally transients who have come
| into town to spend money. Under
: existing conditions a drunken mar
| or a minor is not allowed to enter
: but II open houses were to be sup
I pressed such restrictions would not
obtain, but men would be decoyet
= into all sorts of low-class, irrespOn
: sible houses and robbed outright
v If these houses were to be closed
4 the only result would be the diver
+ sion of the business to other cities
1 which will benefit at the expense o
8 Spokane.
- "There is no more generous class
y in town than the saloon keepers
a and proprietors of houses of othe
n classes. If man is down on hi
y luck he will get better and NOR,
$ hearty help from them than fion
l. all the rest of the community pu
Q together. II any subscriptions ar
o required for any charitable object
$ 1t Is the sporting fraternity tina
pulls out the biggest bill.
Y.,,-,. -, r, ---.-.