New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-03
GAMBLING In FRANCE.
The Efforts Of authorities for It's
Suppression.
Paris, January %.

ing public gambling. It appears that this drastic
measure elected from the energetic Prime
Minister by conversation that took place
few days ago in the lobby Of the Chamber of
Deputies. A well known Royalist and Ultra
montana Deputy who notwithstanding political
differences has for the last thirty years main
tanned fairly cordial personal relations with the
sutocrat OF the Radical party asked NJ. CIemen-
ceau: why is it, my dear enemy, that the
Association law Of July, 1901, which was the
work Of Waldeck- Rousseau, should serve to
multiply to extraordinary extent the public
gambling hells. while you apply it only TO the
unfortunate religious communities" The Prime
Minister replied: My wide awake opponent and
guardian Of public virtue, let thank you for
thus calling my attention to the matter. I shall
investigate it, and you will soon see that the
Association law will be impartially applied to
associations for gambling as we'll as to those
for pubic worship-for what is sauce for the
goose is sauce for the gander." NJ. Clemenceau
shortly aftsrward left the chamber, and that
same evening had long conversation with the
Minister Of Justice and with the Project Of Po-
lice. The result is that on January II NJ. Clenen-
ceau issued instructions TO the Governor Gen
eral of Algeria, TO the projects of all the depart
Tnents in France and 10 the Project of Police Of
Paris. NJ. Lepine, calling attention to the scan
dalous increase OF public gambling establish
Inents IN France, and after giving a mastery
historical summary of the gambling laws IN
France directed that all gambling licenses be
revoked because they were Illegally granted.
and that all gambling establishments without
licenses be forthwith closed. The edict OF NJ.
Clenenceau further requires that all foreigners
found to be acting as managers Of such organj-
cations shall be expelled from French territory
within twenty-four hours.
This wholesale ukase against public gambling
will hay 70 chi
visiting fashionable pleasure resorts such as
Nice, Biarritz, Trouvile. Dieppe, Dinard. AK
les-Bains, Vichy. Royat, EVian, and others too
numerous to mention VIII find them greatly
changed, because the brilliant theatrical, must
cal and artistic attractions and indeed. the fas-
cinating luxury Of those places, all support
ed by proceeds from the gambling tables. The
stamping out Of gambling means death TO the
casinos. Now, the casino is the heart and soul
OF the French pleasure resorts. The casino, great
or, small Is composed OF a theatre, a concert hall,
e restaurant. a cafe barroom a court provided
with the famous game Of petits-chevaux, up
on which the public can stake their money, and
g 'cercle" club. the admission 10 which is
such q pure formality that It be obtained
in five minutes by means of paltry tip TO
hotel porter. The theatre is invariably run at
q great loss, and also IS the concert hall. for
the leading winter summer resorts engage
pr1ncely uberality. The theatre and the
certs often cost 500 or $500 day In the height
Of the season. while the receipts amount TO only
$50 day. The flower gardens, footpatls roads.
etc, are also kept IN admirable condition
at the expense OF the casino. The money, OF
course. comes from the petIts-chevaux and
from the heroic games Of poker. baccarat bridge
rouge-et-noir and roulette, that are played in
the 'cercle.''
This suppression OF public gambling thus does
away with the theatres. music, balls, carnival
fetes, masquerades, snd luxurious festivities
that have until now characterized French water
ing places. Tho situation caused by NJ. Clemen-
ceau's edict has become so serious at Nice that
the Project of the Department Of the Maritime
Alps, n. sauvan, who is also a Senator, has
come to Paris in the hope Of persuading the
Prime Minister 10 modify his decree, which tho
Project declares Will ruin Nice" At Nice there
are half dozen casinos frequented by wealthy
pleasure seeking visitors. whose daily average
number during the is twenty thousand.
The largest OF the casinos at Nice IS that OF
the municipality. which is a vast, sumptuously
gotten Up establishment Besides this there
are the Jetty Palace, the Olympia, the Edo
rado and the KursaaL There is great rivalry
and competition in providing theatrical and
musical entertainments. with the best artists.
The Nice Opera House is maintained by g sub
vention Of $4,000 from the municipal casino
The municipal casino pays $4,000 to the Nice
races and also $4,000 for the Nice carnival
Nice will thus be shorn Of all these splendors
which are paid for by the casinos. The same
thing viii occur next summer at Aix-les-
Bains Vichy Trouv1ue, Dinard, Etretat. Dieppe.
BouIogne-sur-Mer, Bourboule, Contrexeville.
Luchon and elsewhere.
In Paris the application OF ID. Clemenceau's
edict has caused tremendous commotion in the
gambling clubs and "tripots." Some ninety for
eigners mostly Belgians-there are 30 far only
three Americans-who managed such establish
rlents have been conducted to the frontier each
between two gendarmes. The drastic measure
Of N. Clemenceau applies not only TO casinos,
which are practically open TO all coners but
also 10 clubs which exist substantially for
gambling purposes and admissions to which are
not adequately restricted. It should be noted
that the genuine and respectable clubs In Paris,
such as the CercIe de PUnion, lie Jockey. Cercle
Agricole O'ommes de Terre), Cercle de la Rue
Royale. rUnion Artistique Q'EpatanO. CercIe
Artistique Litteraire Cvolney), the Automo-
bile Club and others where the membership is
obtained only after rigid formalities and bona
ide election, are exempted from the application
Of the gambling laws. Two tests are established
10 distinguish genuine clubs from "tripots" or
gambling hells. First Of ALL the object of the
club, whether sporting literary or artistic. must
be in good faith. and not have the Interior aim
Of providing a screen behind which gambling
is carried on. Second, the admission must de-
pend upon formalities and balloting such as
prevail in the best clubs in the United States.
Clubs fulfilling these requirements are placed
,n an entirely different class, and their members