The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1907-04-02
NO GAMBLING
in MONTANA
DRASTIC LAW is NOW IN FULL
FORCE.
Social Games for Cigars or Drinks
and Prize Gard Parties Are Pro-
hibited Together With Gambling
at Faro and RoIette.

Helena, Mont, April Montanas
new anti-gambling law, the most strin-
gent measure of the kind ever propos-
ed to put stop to all games of
chance, even though the consideration
be only drink or cigar went into
effect yesterday, and devotees of the
friendly games of poker, "solo" or
slough, whist and cribbage that have
been played in all classes of society
for thirty years are wondering what
they are going to do for pastirne.
The law Is so drastic and far-reach-
ing in its terms that its strict en-
forcement will place a ban on all
games played in social clubs for the
drinks or cigars. Church raffles
church lotteries and every undertake
ing of that sort in which there is a
consideration involved will be illegal
Primarily aimed to check gambling for
money at faro, poker roulette, craps
and similar games, the bill goes much
farther and places the taboo upon the
milder forms of amusement if they
can be called such.
All Stakes Are Barred.
Any game of chance in which there
is a consideration is prohibited, and
that is all there is to it-whether the
consideration be cigar, a package of
cigarettes or chewing gum or any sum.
of money
The law makes the owner of proper
ty in which the law is violated equal
ly liable civilly and criminaIly. civiflyI
for the amount of money lost and
FL sxf
law. The punishment is heavy fine
for the first offense, to be followed by
a jail sentence for subsequent infrac-
tions.
It is made the duty of all officers Of
the law TO contiscate any gambling
devices wherever and whenever found.
and to destroy them after they have
been used as evidence. Public officers
refusing to enforce the law become in-
eligible and will lose their Offices. They
may also be convicted of felony and
sent to. the penitentiary if it can be
proved they accepted any gift or other
prlbe limiting at violation Of the law.
Hits the Clubs, Too.
The Griffin anti gambling law. as it |
Is generally known, was one of the |
notable achievements of the late leg
lslative assembly 1t was bitterly
Fought In both houses and various were /
the methods resorted to to defeat ii, /
but these all failed and it was prompt
~ approved by the governor. There
are many people in Montana who en-
JOY the games of whist. solo, crib l
page. pedro, etc, for drink or a cf- I
gar in the social clubs or i'm cigar
stores and saloons. They do not playl
for money-only for the cigars or
some LIQUID refreshments. Ali this
must stop.
In the Montana and the Lambs clubs
two of the leading clubs of Helena. and
for that matter of the state there are
a host of men to be seen every after
noon and evening passing the time
playing these games. The same Is
true OF the Silver Bow club In Butte
the Electric club in Great Falls the
Billings club in Billings, the Gallatin
CLUB IN Bozeman, the Miles City club,
ana Ia fact In every social club in the
state. SO far as known none tolerate
gambling for money, despite reports ia
The contrary.
Will Test the Law.
1t Is no uncommon sight in either 4
y the Helena clubs to see judges OIL
he district and supreme courts, state
'nlcers and others equally prominent /,
snJoying their friendly game for drinks |
~ cigars. In the Lambs club here 1t |
$ not uncommon any evening to see III
several card games going at one time.
he participants in which represent
lbout every walk In life for class dis
lnctl0n Is not drawn closely nl1t have | 4
The knowledge that the new law win
make these heretofore supposedly
harmless games a crime has set anil /,
hub members to guessing and manyI
re the schemes proposed to beat the
aw All these fail, however, for the
'est attorneys In the state declare the !
aW Is equally applicable to clubs and !,
he lowest gambling resorts. Both 81
Tubs have decided to stop games for
time pending a test of the law which ]