The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-10-05
Rule abd MisfuIe.
Communicated

Home rule Is one VI hhC C1i
tenets or principles of the Democratic
party. It is the fetch of its worship,
the lares ct penates of It's govern
mental household. We are therefore
inclined to look for the most cherished
results of Democracy 10 It's traditional
idea of exemplary local self govern
ment. Pardon Us if while We pause to
admire the theory we soIlioqulze re-
yerseiy on the practice. The city OF
New Orleans is the great metropolis
of the south. 1t is the GROWING tower
of the Acropolis of southern Democ-
racy. In 1879, and 1898, the great
and glorious Democracy framed con-
stitutlons. In each of these consglta-
tons Act l72 of 1879 and Act 1873 OF
1881 the Democratic chieftalns said
with terrible frown, Gambling IS
hereby declared to be a vice and the
legislature shall enact laws TO sup
press it., and by Art. 189 of the latter
constitution gambling in futures was
denounced; gambling then going on
almost in hearing of the convention.
Thrice denounced by its own or
ganic laws, how has Democracy car
ried out It's own fat in the local police
regulation of a vice? Twenty two
wears after Art. 1T2 OF the former con-
stitution was passed, Democratic
supreme court said, 10Th La. p.
194), s'This article is not operative
proprio vigore. The legislature has
not deemed proper to carry out its
mandate. Until it takes action, the
article cited. must remain without
effect. TO the legislature alone is
delegated the power of legislating
against gambling"
This grand-sJand constitutional
bluff is to be noted in that the only
conviction for gambling in cards re-
ported in the supreme court since
1879 is that of State vs.. Behan ct ais,
decided in 1905, 113 La. 754, a case
presented under Act IL of 1870, law
passed by a negro legislature and at
tested by negro lieuten ant governor,
the only halfway effective law that
exists today against banking games
In this state, which include certain
games of cards. The good book says
'By their fruits shall ye judge them. "
If SO, Democracy performance is
far inferior, in this respect at least,
to that of Lieutenant Governor Dunn
and his black legislative legion.
1t is true that Act Is OF 1898 made
gambling in futures a misdemeanor,
but the act occasioned laughter ane
| amusement when it passed, as there
were no means provided or require
| ments made TO separate the sheer
/ from the goats, the bona fide from the
gambling contracts for futures.
Up to 1904 there was no community
so overridden and infested with gam
blers in the United States as New Or
| leans, with its unlimited racing, poo
rooms by the score, the cotton ex
change, bucket shops galore, lotterie!
and gambling houses OF all kinds
/ At last the people, not the officers
arose and cried out for deliVerance
| The poolrooms have been put down
/ the lotteries have been lessened, thert
| is a prospect that racing will be pu
under q commission, the gambling
houses operate secretly and behint
closed doors, and only the race
courses, the cotton exchange and tn
bucket shops with their mighty game
roll on unruffled and serene.
But as gambling has been curbe'
10 the city of New Orleans it has in
creased in the same degree in tn
parish of Jefferson, where it has beel
carried on openly for years, unde
officials whose optical obtuseness ha
only been exceeded by their mora
obliquity. Here it has grown to sucl
enormous proportions as to affect tn
peace, comfort and morals OF adioin
ing parishes. The people have as
sembled in New Orleans, and, aceus
toned TO the deafness and blindnes
of the officers of Jefferson parish
have appealed for relief to the Cover
nor. Governor Blanchard has ad
dressed stern public letters to tn
jefferson parish officers, whom he ha
vafnly privately addressed before o.
this subject, These officers, no douh
furious with the governor, have re
luctantly compelled the gamblers t.
close and have promised them flu
| ture prosecution, This prosecutio
talk hits US on our funny bone
"Nous yerrons ce que nous verrons.
| The question now is, how long Ca
Democrat governor keep down th
lid of the gambling cauldron of Jeffer
son parish. Some people here thinl
the lid will get so hot that asbesto
breeches will yet be needed for th
purpose.
| Democratic home rule is a grea
and noble thing, particularly whe
gambling and graft and glory max
a prosperous and alliterative comb
nation.
Bitten by Spider.