Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-02-27

go he Morning Journals recent exposure Of the scheme 10 force a fake
anu-qambEng bill on the legislature and the people during the closing
~ DAYS Of the session, has brought a loud wall OF denial IRON the men
who were responsible for the possibility Of such a scheme becoming
successful 1t has brought renewed assurance from The machine organ IN
Santa Re hal the leaders Of the machine are sincere in their support Of an
honest prohhnory law which will stop gambling IN this Territory. lhee
assurances have been coming from the machine organ IN Santa re since The
beginning Of the session; vague, indefinite limitations that n good time the
machine might lend its assistance 10 the passage oil a genuine anu gambling act
There ne now three ami gambling bills before the assembly, any ne OF
which. it IS declared, would stop gambling. The machine apparently iayoa
Nh Spess Is one. assert that the SpGs bill will prove enforceable and that
II Will check gambling Ohc very able lawyers assert that the Spss bill IS
defective IN that it provides for prosecution only by indictment and makes
no provision for prosecution upon information by the district attorney. That
hc bill would be more effective with such m added provision, there IS no
doubt The difficulty OF securing indictments Tor violation OF laws oil this
kind is well known. The ma who gambes IS always unwilling to testify
beloe. a grand jury, while the man who runs the game very naturally Is even
less inclined to testify.
If the provision for prosecution upon information will render this IegraH
ion more effective it should be inserted and every man who stands Tor The
prohibition Of gambling, should seek 10 have II inserted; Tor 1t IS agreed
that it were better to leave the gambling evil alone as 1t Is, ule" a la can
be passed which will check II completely and which will leave n possible
chance for the existence Of upstairs gambling dens and blinds, IN winch all
experience goes to show that a game which n the open has only a heavy
percentage against the paycr. become a system Of robbery
But the point is here: If he machine leaders IN the legislature and out
Of 1t are in favor Of an ntgambng law, in honest law, why do they con
tnue to obducl and deter ITS consideration The understanding IS that a
part Of the scheme o pass the fake law was to hold up all anti gmblng leg
naion until after The adjournment Of congress, so al to remove the danger OF
who might refuse 10 stand Gr a fake law. could be whipped into line by
threats Of delay Of other legislation The continued delay in considering this
legislation merely serves 10 add strength to the common rumor as 10 this plan
There are men in the Legislature, N both houses. a few OF them, who
are openly and frankly opposed to the anuganblng law and who desire a
continuance of the present license system. These men are quite frank in their
expressions They do not desire delay in the proposed legislation They are
willing tht it should come up and be considered and either passed or de
leMed The position Of these men compes sincere admiration when compared
with the position Of others who are seeking 10 block this legislation while pre-
tending TO favor it,
There has been plenty of delay in hs legislation There has been
ample time for consideration OF the several measures before the assembly
The test Of sincerity in This case is found IN action.