Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-03-11
ABOUT
SUNDAY
CLOSING
AS About Everything
Else Opinions Vary
on This
Chief Gibson Insists He Is
0beyIng Orders = Some
Think He Is After
the Council

In speaking Of the matter recently,
stho chief said that he had, in accord.
.ance with the law ordered the sus-
pension OF all games for money or rep
resentatlves Of money whether they
were chips. cigars or drinks. and that
ALL card games or dice, when played
Tor money or representatives Of money
were equally under the ban Of the law,
as he understood H. lie said there
was no harm In playing cards for
amusement. and as long as cards we're
played for amusement only. and no
chips representing money. cigars or
drinks were used. such games were
not prohibited. Il am simply follow
ing out tho ordinances and the orders
Of the council In ordering the games
CLOSED. Chief Gibson said when ap
preached on the matter. and Il Is the
purpose TO suppress gambling In the
city. Card games or dice games, when
played for cigars or with chips to be
sxchangcd for cigars, are prohibited
nnder the laws"
Salem was "sure-enough" closed
town on Sunday last, which was the
nrst Sunday following Chief OF Police
Olbsons sweeping order to saloon
men to keep their doors locked from
~ o'clock Saturday night to l2 o'clock
sunday night. As fHr as can be learned
all OF these places obeyed the man.
date OF salems chief police officer
There ls considerable speculation rife
as 10 what the whole matter means.
Some wise ones say Il Is for this pur
pose, and nome another. Some say Il
10 I'm tho interests of the gambler
while the gamblers say Il Is in the In.
terost Of nobody Some OF the saloon
men say they enjoy day of rest
while Others insist that it Is a detri.
ment TO the city, inasmuch as Il will
keep strangers. travelling men, country
mechanics and lahorers from spending
helr Sundays land money! In the
city.
In the cigar stores the matter has
gone 80 Tar, that not even card'play-
ing for fun is allowed. Il seems this
order was not given out at all the
places but In some the chief OF po.
lioe was asked whether his order in
cluded playing cards FOR fun; when he
told them that thoy might fare worse
playing tor fun than any other way.
klome went 30 far az TO ask whether
playing solitaire" would be permis.
sable when he suggested tha, they
had better not Il was noted by a
number OF the dealers al ls o'clock
Saturday night that Salem's chief OF
police was conspicuous by his alb.
senoo from the streets, and that hls
men had received nn orders concerns
ins the matter Of closing.
lot this be as Il may, the question
that "a stll interesting the public is
shat Il all means The statement that
II Is spite work, is accepted In many
quarters Several members OF the new
council say that Gibson has had a
"chip on hts shoulder" ever since the
late city election. and that he has boen
mum" ln their presenee, They oharse
that ho has neither asked advice. Gp.
pealed fe consultation nor proaered
sesgosilons He simply said. when
.assed. that he would not undertake to
enioroe an ordinance unless the eoun,
e,h gave hlm specific orders AN of
ahs TAN relative 10 his Inability 10 en-,
force the law arose from the bicycle
ordinance. and whom that Instrument
was replaced with the older and mild.
er bicycle ordinance, tho plea was
stln made that 40 authority existed for
iu enforcement The resolution By
the council asking the city marshal
40 enforoe an ordnance and tho
special ordinance making that one q
AIS duties vas the result whether on