Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-10-02
NO MORE
RATTLING
OF DICE
Portland Police Judge Says
Playing For Any Old Thing
Is Gambling.
cortland Journal.)

(POrtlanQ JOurndl.J
When Judge Cameron said you
couldn't play game of cards in a
saloon for drink without incurring
his judicial wrath and a hair-raising
penalty, he shot an arrow farther
than he knew. In some cigar stores
you can't shake dice for "the odd
one;" in fact, you can't shake dice
at all in the Gunst shops.
The anti-dice order went into eff
feet yesterday.
On top of it came the hint that in
the very near future the machine"
would be taken out, and the state
ment is made that so far as the
Gunst stores are concerned, the cigar
and tobacco business will be con-
ducted on the basis of any other le-
gitimate enterprise-you put down
your money and get what you pay
for.
The news that the dice box is
barred will surprise and pain some
of our best citizens the suggestion
that the nickel-in-the-slot-m
has had "23" written to its merry
career will amaze and shock. The
slot machine has become a habit
with many, who would rather play
it than smoke.
History of the Machine.
The history of the machine is in
teresting. When 1t was introduced
the novelty attracted and some of
the men who played 1t Is years are
! playing 1t yet. But they say 1t is
not what it once was. In that old
time. they tell you. a, flush or a
straight or even a full hand was a
| common thing, and straight flush
"a sequence of the same suit--did
not cause a fire. And they go so far
as to say that royal fiush-ace,
king, queen, jack, ten of the same
suit-had no seismic tendencies in
it, and that it was known to happen
once or twice a week. Now, the
same oldtimers say, wherever you
get a royal building in San Fran
cisco topples over or Valparaiso falls
down, or there's a storm in the gulf
state.
On the other play, Nose Gunst
says the machine doesn't pay. 1t
' It.tta hn q mi
trade costs more than it is worth.
Tutor of Dishonesty.
And he says that the machine In
duces dishonesty. Men who would
not take advantage of their posi-
tions as cashiers in country banks
tamper with the machines, and when
the clerks are not looking, miscall
their hands, declaring that they have
three aces. when as matter of fact
there may not be more than two
aces in the machine.
Often the unsupported declaration
of the player is disputed by the
clerk and the result Is trouble, which
:. inevitably causes the loss of a Gus
toner.
Some time ago the order was Civ
en- that the clerks in the Gunst store:
: would not be permitted to shake
{, dice for more than the odd cigar
This was tried; 1t was found to b'
trade-loser. The customer die
not understand why he could no
shake for whatever he pleased, II h
were allowed to shake at all. TheI
> the rigor of the order was mitigated
The machine player was permitted
to shake for 10 cigars; and still n
WANTED to enjoy the privilege o
shaking for any number that he des
b, ignated. Hence the order that tn
dice box would no longer be par
' and parcel OF the Gunst business.
Il Think of a cigar store without
!. dice box and machine, It's like try
$ ing to imagine a South American re
r public without a weekly revolution
--o-------
III Sure Cure FOR Piles.