The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-09-05
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
A Reply From Mayor Geo. B. Cromer
Are The Questions Answered?

To the Editor OF The Herald and
News:-Eo our editorial Of last Friday,
that YOU courteOusly decorated with
sundry sneers at our distinguished
mayor was intended to leave the
impression that I have made show
OF enforcing the law in one place
while wi1king at violations Of law in
other places. In order that your read
ers may know how your feelings got
hurt and what you are talking about
it is not out of place to mention as
a belated item OF news that the So
cial club was raided a week ago and
four persons were convicted of gamb-
ling. As the injured tone Of your
editorial may prove misleading. l
hasten to add that you were not in
the party.
Now as to your questions.
7. And has le not licensed the
bucket shop to do business in this
city at so much per year and does he
not know that gambling is going on
there every day on a large scale. and
does he consider that right and prop
er?~
It is true that bucket shop or
cotton exchange has been licensed
under an ordinance that l helped to
pass. The present ordinance is the
ordinance Of 1904 re-enacted. That
ordinance following the example OF
other towns fixed a license TOR
bucket shops. have never been IN
bucket shop and at the time OF the
re-enactment Of the ordinance l did
not know the nature Of the business.
When I was informed that the clerk
acting under the ordinance, had is
sued the license, and my attention
was called to the nature Of the busl-
ness. I Immediately asked the city
attorney to find out whether the town
council had the power, to revoke the
license, and the matter was discussed
by the council. That matter is under
consideration. 81 y
But I would like for you TO- point
out the law under which I have the
power to punish the bucket: shop OF
its customers as gamblers. l agree
with you heartily that the business IS
morally wrong; but while the Ia"
makes it crime to play cards tor
money! il treats the bucket shop as
LEGITIMATE business,and you must go
to the legislature for the remedy; l
saw frankly, however, that the license
will not be renewed and no other IL
cense will be issued to a bucket >snop
with my consent.
Nov we would like to know Where
he draws the distinction betweena lit
tie social game OF cards that IS not
disturbing anyone and betting on an
intercollegiate game of baseball?
If you or others have evidence that
there was betting on the bali game
last June, will take it as kindness
if you will give tito the chief OF ponce
I have heard that there was Dettlng'
but the evidence was not torthcom-
inc It is not too late to punish per-
sons for gambling in June, and it will
not make a particle of difference lei e
me who gets hurt.
"Does he consider this right and
little game of cards so heinous that
he must make an eavesdroppeT OF MS
! policemen to hrd out if gentlemen
are playing a social game OF cards:
You have jumped at the conclu-
sion that the policeman was acting
under special instructions from me-
The policemen of the town have IN. .
structions to enforce all laws. l dlo
not make the club a mark Of spec1al
attention, and I suppose that the ral1
was as great a surprise to me as 1t
was to YOU. The belief was common
=, .,L1;,o was ooinp on there.