The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-09-13
HAGERMAN ON REFORM

and which are fitted out with the us
ual mechanical gambling devises run
by professional gamblers, are entire
ly different. They are in fact cleverly
contrived robbery. In the nature of
the case they cannot be otherwise.
Unless they were 50 contrived as to
have an enormous advantage over the
players, however ski1lful, they could
not live and make h enormous pro-
fits which it is we'll known they do
make. To be sure of this We have on
ly to become acquainted with the
history of some of the great gambling
establishments now existing or which
have existed in other parts of the
world.
Up to 1872 the City of Hamburg,
Germany, noted for its mineral waters
which attracted thousands of ricn PEG
pie, had the largest gambling estab-
1ishment in Europe, which was licens-
ed by the German government. For
this privilege the gambling companies
paid to the government enormous
sums; they expended millions of dol
| lars Ill SdIlDlIuS pdldC6Ss SdIuSHS anu
other improvements, and besides these
enormous OUTLAWS they paid their
shareholders ove forty per cent annu
| ally in dividends. At Hamburg, Baden
and other German gambling resorts,
the native people were strictly forbid
den to gamble, but in spite of all
the authorities could do tha establish
ments became sucn a curse to the
communities, the cause of so much
loss, insanity, suicide and murder,
that in 1872 they were finally driven
out of the country. The German and
French gambling proprietors then
went to the Principality of Monaco
on the Mediterranean, the most beau
tiful spot and smallest monarchy IN
Europe. 1t was founded by pirates
in the middle ages; it was united to
France by Napolean, but on his fall,
the Prince of Monaco" was restored
to his rights, and Monaco exists to-day
as the plague spot of Europe.
Having little other income, the
Prince in 1868, for a large sun as
bonus, granted to a joint stock COM
pany an exclusive right to carry on
gambling for a term of years. For
this privilege the company was to pay
an annual license fee of $250,000 and
to pay the cost of keeping all the
whole Principally in order, of light
ing, water and police. In 1898 this
concession was extended until 1947.
II return for this extension the COM
pany agreed to pay a bonus of $1,000
900. The annual rent for h conces-
sion was to be increased from year
to year until finally from S350,000 it
reached $780, 900 a ear In addition
to these enormous sums the gambling
company pays the whole cost Of max
ing and repairing streets, of light,
water and police. The capital of the
company is Sc, 200, 900 and the shares
sell at an enormous premium.
Some of the gambling devices used
at Monte Carlo are practically the
same as those used in New Mexico,
except that they are more fair to the
player. They are made to be in the
long run sure winners, and this they
are. Sometimes they lose, but in the
long run they are sure to win. This
is proven by the fact that they do win
and pay dividends every year, as reg
ularly as this government pays inter
est on its bonds.
ANY man who risks his money for
a long time on the games at Monte
Carlo. or on similar devices in New
Mexico is sure to lose. Those who
run them are in no way entitled tC
the protection of the laws. 1t is in
deed high time for New Mexico tC
rid itself of this incubus. A protec
ton of our own people demands it
and the gamblers have no claim or
us whatever.
If left to the direct vote of the peO-
pie, l believe the gambling monster
would be condemned to death and ex
lecuted. But it cannot be settled by
the direct vote of the people. If i
is not prohibited by an Act Of TIL
| ished at all, by an act of the Legis
; lature of New Mexico.
| intend to use my utmost effort
as Governor of this Territory, in cas-
of the meeting of another t~erTitorla
legislature, to secure the passage 0
o a law prohibiting licensed gamblin
in New Mexico, if b Congress o
X the United States in h meantim
a does not do it for us. At the sam
+ time devoutly hope and PERSONAL
believe that the United States Coz
gress if it still has power to do S
Whpn it reaSSRmhle will mass tn