The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-08-18
A CIR UhA}HAh[D
MANY CHANGES GREET THE
STRANGER IN DEADWOOD
THEIR MAYOR IS INTERVIEWED
States Attorney Parker Tells Why
He Closed tho Lid and Why
He VIII Keep It So.

The reporter was surprised some
what with the evident business pros
perty of Deadwood on a recent visit
there. Merchants are enthuiastic
over the conditions made possible
there by the closing of the gambling
dens in that city. A movement Of
that kind in any other city of the
Hills (as for instance the closing OF
gambling in Meade county last week.
would have seemed mere passing
event, but to Deadwood it was an
upheavel such as they had not e1-
perienced for years. A change from
the radically unlawful to conditions
of real business and not the bubble
created by the gambling fraternity.
Gambling was deeply rooted in the
city. For years Deadwood has been
the haven of rest for this variety of
citizens and the word has gone forth
over the entire country that Dead
wood was the toughest town OF its
size in the world" The change 10
interesting to an outsider and was
considered a poor move on the part
Of the states attorney, Col. Parker,
by those who thought Deadwood,
like Monte Carlo, would fade away
with the gambler.
Col. Parker is a most interesting
man to meet. He is one. OF the
really big and broad minded men Of
the west-a man thoroughly posted
in the worlds events, with an eye
that looks into your very soul, YET
q kindly eye and pleasing face. A
curve OF the face that bespeaks 8
strong character and one in which
you would Ike to confide. Statistics
are spoken as fast as questions are
put and he grows enthusiastic over
the future OF the Hills country.
eve have passed the western
mining camp stage years ago,
said he "and why should we continue
to disobey the law simply because
the law has been disobeyed in th'
past2
"Newspapers have said that tn
wave of reform az they term it
was started from the fact that
certain young man stole money AM
lost it over the gaming tables. Thi
is not so at all. This was only on
of many incidents that led me to en-
force the law. I could tell you Q
events by the hour that would max
your hair stand on end, even wors
than this story that has gone th
rounds of the press. Women hav
come to me by the score and pleade
for their husbands saying that the
spent their wages in the gamblin
houses. The condition was seriou
one and would bear immediate q
tention.
Though many complaints we,
made, no one was taken as q pa
ticular misdemeanor on the part
the gamblers, but it was simply th'
decided to enforce the law ,
should be done.
What do the business men thir
of the change and do they suppo
you?
Eyes, ! have the support of Il
honest business men and they q
glad Of the change. Reports fro
all sides say that business is bette
More goods are sold and best of q
they are paid for. Men that hs
carried long credits at the grocer
the meat markets and the clothi
houses are now paying cash. II
is the condition we now have q
it will make an era of great pr
perity for our city.
Gambling, will not open in La
renee county, at least, as long .
am states attorney. Gamblers q
now convinced, / think, that we a
going to enforce the law in +
county"
Mr.. Parker recalled many int