The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-10-12

union, composed or good and deter
mined citizens. The active work was
done by an executive committee of %,
"The Skidoo Committee"
Disguised with the evasions of the
sworn officers of the law, the "Skidoo
Committee" issued a final formal
warning.
Drummed Out of Town.
The proprietors Of the gambling
houses realized that this meant bust
ness. officers Of the law, too, awak-
ened to the occasion. Failure to do
their part would have meant impeach-
ment.
Following the warning fully 400
members of the Improvement union
marched down Central avenue in
front of the gambling resorts, behind
a band playing patriotic airs. The
scene was impressive. The process
sion, to the gambling fraternity, was
a veritable funeral march.
BIi9hted by Gambling.
For DO years gambling has been
condoned here in the belief that it
was indispensable to a watering place.
The city of Hot Springs is now city
of $4,000. But with its growth there
was not corresponding growth in
municipal improvements, good streets
sewers, etc. Very little money from
visitors ever found its way into the
city treasury. What was not spent at
the bath houses, boarding houses and
with the doctors, went into the hands
of the gamblers and never again found
its way into the regular channels of
trade.
Organizing the Crusade.
At first there was only small band
of "improvers." The movement gath
cred strength slowly until the indie
pendent county ticket was deliberate
ly counted out at the Septem-
Der election, and men known
to be favorable to gambling
were counted In. Thereupon the
citizens movement gathered force,
and now 1t has the active or silent
support of three-forths of the resi-
dent population. 80,
1t was politics after all that cleared
Hot Springs of its gambling houses. A
few months ago Governor JEFF Davis
and the local Democratic machine had
differences. About this time the reg
ularly elected prosecuting attorney
died. The governor scored by ap-
pointing William Scoggin, a young at
torney of more than the usual amount
of nerve. Prosecutor Scoggin imme-
diately Joined forces with the enemies
of gambling. The gamblers realized
that with the help OF Scoggin the
union could carry out its determine
ton.
Suicides Graves.
On the hill back of the city lie
buried scores Of suicides-men and
women who came here for health, but
who being tempted to increase their
meager funds at the gaming table,
lost all and then life by their own
hands. No one was ever told of the
losses of the poor The one story of
less was that of John W. Gates. who
is alleged to have dropped $4,000 in
one night at-the Ohio club.
Such has been the influence of gam
bling that but few of the business
houses here escaped the modification
at one time or other. of harboring a
defaulter of embezZler One store, so
the story goes, has, within the past
FIVE years, suffered embezzlement by
sixteen of its young men for funds
with which to gamble.
Policemen as Capper.
One night, before the closing. two
ladies and gentlemen, attracted by
the tales of splendor of the gambling
places, stopped In front of the Ohio
club and asked a policeman in full
uniform IL visitors were allowed IT.
side. Certainly" he said, walk right
in"
Not content to permit men and
women 10 be attracted by the dazzling
sights through the doors, several of
the "clubs" advertised in the local
newspapers, a prominent line being
Visitors are Welcome. Ladies and
Gentlemen are invited"
Subsidized Sirens.
Beautiful women, always attired in
the height OF fashion, were main
tanned for the purpose of lending lady
like color to the houses. These
women, with money furnished by the
proprietors, would play roulet and
other games whenever parties OF
visiting men and women were present.
The "improvers" feel confident that
when the news is spread over the
world that gambling has ceased, S00.-
600 instead of 10000 visitors will
come to Hot Springs within the next
year There are, of course. those who
predict the ruin of the city, but they
are in the minority. A very hopeful
spirit prevails.