Arizona republican., 1906-11-17

When 1t was resolved to submit the { gambling question to the voters of 1 Phoenix, Mayor Coggins wrote to May [ or Manning of Tucson where gambling ! was prohibited by law more than a i year ago. asking what effect if any | had been observed upon the business i and general conditions of the town.
 Yesterday he received the following l letter signed by the mayor and a mem- | Der of the council:
 Tucson, Arizona, Nov. IS, 1906. Hon. L. W. Coggins,
 Mayor of Phoenix,
 Phoenix, Arizona.
 Dear Sir: In reply to your letters of 12th inst, requesting a statement cov- ering the effect upon business in Tue son resulting from the closing of gam bling houses, we are pleased to say that instead of being detrimental, as many prophesied would be the case. the contrary has proven true.
 Never in the history of this town have our commercial interests pros pered so radically as now. Since the suppression of public gambling. early in 1905, they have materially increased in every respect. The merchants are not only handling more goods. but the pay Is more prompt, and certain, and bad credits have been considerably curtailed. Each of our banks is carry ing deposits for many persons who never before were able to maintain live accounts because of the dissipa- ton of their earnings in the gambling houses. The sale of town lots and the building of residences. particularly of the cottage class, has augmented inn mensely not only to the betterment of the individuals. but the town itself. In our opinion. the expense caused the city through the actions of petty crim- inals has decreased through the elimi- nation of gambling. Practically every commercial and social phase of civic conditions has improved and under no circumstances would the people of Tue son submit to any proposition that will tend to reinstate public gambling. Dire predictions were made when the common council passed the ordinance restricting the evil but in every in- stance they proved futile. Although bitterly and consistently assailed in the various courts. they stood the test and are now accepted as a matter of fact by all classes.
 Not from the moral side only but from every point of view. this legisla- ton has met with unqualified success. since it makes for the betterment of every interest excepting the one which it has suppressed. It might be that some slight detrimental effect was ob- servable at first regarding a few spec ial lines of business. but, if so. they certainly disappeared within short time. giving way to a tangible aug mented prosperity which has evident ly come to stay.
 Two years ago one of the political parties made this question the para mount issue of their campaign, result ! ing in an overwhelming victory over their opponents who were supported by all of the gambling and large pro- portion of the saloon element. This year so radical has been the change in
 public opinion. that both parties have incorporated strong blanks against gambling, in every form, which con- stitutes She best possible proof of the successful operation of the law in fuV- sor.
 While it is true that the elimination
 of gambling has cost the city some thing more than $60O0 annually through the licenses thus lost. yet the deficien- cy has been amply compensated for in other directions. and municipal. street, park. water. sewer and other improve ments have progressed as never before.
 Tucson has lost its former frontier characteristics since it can no longer be stigmatized as a ''wide-open" town. and is rapidly pushing to the fore among American cities of equal pop
 ulation. Where gambling is curbed. the influx of a stable and desirable class of newcomers invariably follows Gambling never did aid this commit
 nifty as a whole in any respect. The professional gamsters who lived upon the earnings of wage workers were the only persons benefited at all. and most
 of their gains eventually found outlets
 in larger cities outside of Arizona. on
 the other hand. many of those who regularly lost their earnings at the gambling tables. are now able to pro
 vide their families with additional com forts and. besides. have increased
 their property holdings. It is axiomat- 1 ic that professional gamblers are not
 producers. but live upon those who are. hence the abolishment of gambling
 houses cannot but rebound to the gen. eraI good Their suppression has
 meant much for Tucson. Since it's ac- complishment the city has taken rap
 i'd onward strides. and it's population
 has materially increased, Should sim
 liar legislation prevail in Phoenix 1t IS ] fair to assume that the same benehts
 would be experienced there.
 | Wishing you every success in your administration of public affairs and
 continued prosperity for the splendid city YOU so ably represent as its chief ! executive. we remain.
 II Sincerely yours