The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-21
CONTENTION
Is SETTLED
Mayor Mclean Orders Al
Slot Machines Out.
UNDER THE STATE LAW
Most of Them Go to Okla
homa and New Mexico,

The slot machine will be no more in
! Wichita after the noon hour today. TheiI
day has passed. Mayor Mclean, in com
pIiance with the recently passed law. or
dered the chief of police yesterday 10
notify their owners and lessees TO re
move them. Chief Burt carried out the
orders OF the mayor. and already many
of the machines have been boxed up
ready for shipment. Most OF them WI.
go to Oklahoma and New Mexico
Wagons were busy all afternoon going
out empty and coming back with ma
chimes.
Thus ends one source of contention il
Wichita. Mayor Mclean has never look
ed with favor upon slot machines, and
nine months ago he started 10 suppress
them He first ordered them out Of ciga 4
parlors and places OF that kind, because
they were a greater inducement to boys
IN those places than they were In sa-
looms where boys could not enter any
way. Boys are never allowed TO enter
saloons since the mayor issued orders 70
that effect two years ago. when he first
entered upon the duties of the office. and
hence the saloon machines could not IN
any way demoraliZe the youth. But III
slot machines were not kept out of the
saloons. So many people urged upon
their representatives in the council the
necessity for the revenue from the slot
machines that eight members Of that
body voted to nullify the effect of Mayor
Mclean order. The councilmen were
forced to it by their constituents. and as
a matter of fact the people were prima-
rily responsible for slot machines as a
revenue getter in Wichita.
After the state some time ago started
it's war on the slot machines through
Senator Tom NoftzSer. local agitation
was started against them. and when
Noftzgers bill passed it was easy to see
that they were doomed. This settles an
important issue in every community and
everybody seems TO be glad of it.
The mayors order is as follows:
Wichita. Kan. March 90 1903
Mr. Frank s. Burt, Chief of Police.
Wichita. Kansas:
Dear Sir: The law passed by the last
Legislature to prohibit the operation of
what is known as slot machines for gam
bling purposes and to provide a penalty
and a punishment therefor. was published
in the official state paper Wednesday.
March IS. 1903, and the act provides
that it shall be in force and take effect
from and after it's publication in the Off
cial state paper, the same is now law
OF the state of Kansas.
and prosecute IN the police court, until
the CITY council passes an ordinance in
conformity with the state law, | hereby
order you to notify every person. firm or
corporation that have in operation any
slot machines. prohibited by the above
law. that you are instructed to use the
entire police force of this city to assist
in enforcing the above law, and that you
will file information with the county at
torney and cause the arrest and convic-
ton of every one found violating the
above law
That this order be in full force and eff
feet after Il m. Saturday. March q. 1893.
3. F. MLEAN, Mayor.
The following is a copy of the law as
published in the official state paper:
Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the
State Of Kansas:
Section /. The operation of any ma
chine or mechanism for gambling pur-
poses, and particularly those machines
commonly known and designated as slot
machines, in the operation of which cash
prizes or other valuable things are given.
shall be deemed a misdemeanor.
Sec. 2. Every person who shall set Up
or keep in any room where merchandise
is sold or kept for sale. hotel office, club
room. saloon, joint. gambling house.
brothel. or other public or private place
any slot machine. or gambling device.
devised or designed for the purpose Of