The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-05-04
AsrORIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
MIGHTY BAD BUSINESS.


One of the brightest advertising men ON the coast,
III. W. Gowell of Seattle, has committed suicide at
Portland because he lost his money gambling at the
different houses there AT Seattle Gowell met with
financial reverses and went to Portland to gamble,
He hoped in this manner to reeoup his finances to an
extent that would enable him to pull through the
crisis He lost $780, and then repaired to his room
and turned on the gas He left an explanatory let
ter which appeared in the Journal.
Gowel expressed the conyction in his letter to the
Journal that the gambling houses, IN view of the
circumstances should return to his widow enough OF
the money lost by him to enable her to settle some
obligations which can not well go unpaid. He said
he did not believe in "squealing, but that as ne
killed himself in order to place his wife in possession
of his life insurance, he felt the gambling men might
at least offer some assistance by returning part OF
the money lost OF course the gamblers will do this
they always help in case of death.
The suicide of this intelligent man points a moral
that ought not escape any man with desire tc
gamble 1t would seem from the letter left by Gowel
that he was faro fend and that he should have lost
amounting to $3.50 indicates very bad judgment. Bu
the man made the fatal mistake of risking his LITTLE
pile at the faro table, and perhaps did the proper
thing when he killed himself so as to make available
his life insurance
Gambling is mighty bad business, not alone for thu
man who plays the game but as well for the owner
Of the game and the man who deals it. Once it
feeers are entwined about VICTIM it is difficult
for him to free himself The more he plays tn
greater becomes his desire to risk him money. A
losing will only serve to fire him with the idea o.
getting back his money; winning prompts him t.
continue the play. AT times he starts off winner
as the gamblers say and upon losing back the money
already won seeks to recover it. At every stage O.
the game he is the victim Of what is at best an accut
mania. Gambling will ruin he best of men, deadel
their sense of decency and drive them to deeds which
no other form Of vice will prompt them to commit.
The sympathy Of everyone will 60 out to Gowel
and his unfortunate wife. His was surely sad end
ing, and the circumstances surrounding his deatl
were indeed lamentable But his demand upon th'
gamblers for return of some Of the money lost by
him is hardly fair if anything affecting gambling
can be called fair. The man who goes to gaminl
table is acuaed by but one deSireto possess hlmse
Of the gamblers money. He wants to win. Ii he i
lucky enough to break the bank, - he buys drinl
and departs; the financial well-beng of the gambling
mans family is not consideration with him. If HI
loses he should not "squeal He should, instead
make and live up to firm resolution to forego tn
pleasure of gambling A law that makes it possibl
for loser to demand back money which he has los
at gambling tables is blot upon our statute books
1t was calculated, perhaps, to force the gambler
ou of business, but it has failed Of its purpose
results, then, in nothing more or less than an en-
couragement to men to gamble Under its terms
man may gamble, assured that, should he win, tn
money will be HIS but, if he should lose, that h
NAV recover twice the sum lost. Gambling WI
thrive under its terms. Recently Dr. Woods Hutch
inson said of whisky that it was good thing as
had tendency to exterminate the unfit There
very great deal of truth in this statement of tn
doctor; and somewhat similar expression Nigh
be applied to gambling. Any effort on the part Q
the law to protect the man who risks his money
banking or other gambling games is merely calculate
to increase the play. The sooner player is bust,
the better off is everyone concerned With no none
he can not longer gamble
Viewed from any point, gambling is mighty ba
business. It is a pastime which very few shoul
follow