Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-09-06
GAMBLER
At a Famous Gam
ing Resort
Says America Can Never
Have a Monte Carlo.
The Public Would Not Stand
For It."

near and far are gathered here, and
their chief diversion is TO risk thous-
ands on the turn of a card or the mer-
ry rattle of the roulette ball.
Richard A. Garfield, tile king Of
American gamblers has an elaborate
establishment here. Garfield has been
credited with being ambitious to make
! n second Monte Carlo out of Saratoga.
but this he denies In his room at
the Grand Union hotel the other ev-
ening he discussed his Saratoga en-
terprises.
II have no intention of attempting
to transplant Monte Carlo, with it's
famous Casino, sunny skies, the beau
tiful blue Mediterranean, and it's pic
turesque features, to Saratoga" he
said. The genius who credited me
| with the ambition to do so doesn't
know what he is talking about
Il am running the Saratoga club as
a resort for gentlemen who can afford
the luxury. and on the same lines as
| it has been run for many years. 1t
is a club pure and simple. l do not
intend to enlarge or improve it beyond
Transforming into a small garden an
abutting strip of property which I re-
Gently acquired. This parcel Of land
was used as so-called Indian camp,
where undesirable characters congre-
gated. There was much complaint
from citizens of Saratoga about it. So
| bought it-not for the fabulous sum
stated-and will make it a part of the
grounds of the clubhouse"
Garfield is most interesting man to
talk to when he will consent to talk
He is very well informed on almost
every subject that is introduced and
discusses it with keen intelligence and
! without the display of ostentation af-
fected by most men who follow the
pursuit of gambling.
He has none of the characteristics
attributed to men of his calling.
Though cool and deliberate of manner.
as becomes an ideal gambler and good
loser he can be genial and entertain
ing. His general bearing, his direct
ness of speech, reflect his training at
|
Harvard and suggest rather the keen
lawyer than the proprietorsofi the most
famous gaming institution in America.
| His appearance Is tnat of the we'll
balanced man of affairs. His hend is
large. round. and suggests mental
strength. His eyes are keen and of a
steeEgray color. His features are
large regular and well chiseled. The
mouth is particularly strong, and the
sweep of the jaw indicates more than
ordinary force of character.
Garfield has a complexion that wo-
men might envy. His face is beard
less. the skin is clear and ruddy prob
ably because of his temperate habits.
He is not tall man. nor vet particu-
larly short-of n fair average. say 5
feet o or tberealouts.
He is rather inclined to stoutness.
weighing perhaps. 100 pounds. But
his movements are quick, alert. active,
almost as quick as the keen sweep of
his steely eyes. His voice is quiet.
well modulated. and his words we'll
selected. He speaks rapidly-that is.
on any subject on which he consents
to talk.
He knows how to evade making a
direct answer. as well as how TO DO
| htely decline to return ono,
| His attention has been called to the
statement that he had purchased an
entire city block in Saratoga for $780,
600. and intended to enlarge the club.
house which John Morrissey had built
in the heyday of his power and affiu.
ence.
Garfield said the report was amusing.
He made the denial given above, and
added to 1t the statement that such an
Institution as that Of Monte Carlo
could not possibly exist In this coun-
try.
! IF 1t were possible to conduct a
great establishment with the sanction
or the law or the indulgence of law
ofhcials," he said, with a auizzical
glance out of the corner of his eve, "r
think 1t would have been tried before.
NO one certainly has any rights under
the law to do so. 1t amuses me to hen
men talk about their rights in such
matters because other men are in
dulged The best treatment man
who seeks to conduct such an instj-
tuition can secure is that of tolerance
IF he conducts highclass gamb-
ling establishment quietly. without
giving offense to his neighbors or the
general public, and safeguards the in
terests of his patrons, who naturalIv
do not desire their ventures to become
public, it may be tolerated, but that is
| all.
ANY open Haunting Of his business
or the indiscriminate admission of un-
desirable or incompetent persons will
certainly not be tolerated 1t is natur-
al that, men will be attracted -by the
success of properly conducted insti.
tuition of the sort have described. and
may clamor for their so-called rights
to enter the same business. They have
as l say. no rights The best they can
get is indulgence and tolerance.
For instance, II any man es-
sayed. to open an institution of the
sort l have described in Sara toga or
elsewhere, and there were no more
restrictions to prevent 1t than there
are in mining camp town, the city
authorities and the citizens wiuld
naturally protest and prevent It.
About my own affairs do not care