The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-18

GAMBLING HOUSES are running at
7 fun blast in Salt Lake. The whir
of the roulette wheel my be heard
in the upstairs rooms of numerous
places. The poker chips rattle mer-
rily, and the faro bank is doing a rush
ing business. -Four or FIVE houses are
going at full tilt day and night in
various portions of the business dis
trict, and the word has gone forth that
as many more will open their doors to
the sporting public tonight.
The police admit their cOgnizance Of
the condition Of affairs, but with an
air of hopeless resignation, say they.
we have tried to close them up, but
we can't, and what can we do?' II
is freely talked among the gamblers
that they are going TO be allowed to
run wide open under the old system of
monthly fines, and extensive prepare
tiOns are being made for the ERA of
prosperity. The gamblers say they
have been given the impression that
il would be all right to open up, but
the authorities say no such word or
hint has been sent out by them.
Chief Says it Is Folly.
Chief Paul, however. says it is folly
to attempt to close them up tight, and
freely expresses his belief that the only
way to manage gambling at all is to
allow the houses to run wide open, and
have them regulated under police
supervision. The chief also admits
that he knows the saloons do business
on Sunday, but he says his officers
can't get the evidence to stop them,
and. in fact. that il is useless to at
tempt 10 close either them or the
gambling houses. He declares, though,
that the department has had no orders
to allow either to keep open. and they
viii do the best they can in prosecuting
offenders.
Mayor Thompson says the gambling
and liquor plank in the Republican
platform is still intact, and the con-
ventiOn's pledge and his to the public
viii be kept. He proposes to issue or
ders to the chief Of police to see that
the gambling houses and saloons are
kept closed and that the ordinance on
those points are strictly enforced. In
the meantime. the poker player is still
antying." and the roulette fiend is
betting his chips on the red.
Many Houses Running.
It's no trouble to hnd the gambling
houses and get in, If YOU know how.
Some of them have been running on the
sly as the police admit, ever since the
order was sent out closing them. A
few days ago several new places are
known 10 have opened their doors. A
place that is running above the New
Resort saloon, on Main street, opened
Monday night Here is a roulette
wheel. a faro bank and a poker table,
all Of which have been in operation,
according to the statements Of
gambler connected with the house.
That the whereab bouts Of this place
is known to the officials, and that il
is known to be in operation cannot he
denied for a city official was seen in
the joint and he made the remark
that he purchased 81 worth of chips
10 start the roulette game going upon
the open night There are two blind
doors covering the entrance, but
neither is locked. and if the first is
opened the poker players may be seen
from the front door
One Of the attaches of the place
stated that there were two or three
other houses running, and that the
Wasatch combination was going TO
open three houses within a few days
This person said they had not been
told that they could open, but that
they had the impression it would be
all right. provided they paid their
monthly fine.
The same person is authority for the
statement that number of other