The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-08
Crusade Against Monte CarIs.

Crusade Against NOMte CariSs
 A world wide crusade against the gambling hell Of Monte Carlo is about to be started here under the auspices of the famous novelists. Max Pember- ton. Hall Caine and Sir Conan Doyle. It is the idea of these men to organize committees in all the countries of the world to gather names for petitions to the various governments to take steps abolish the plague spot of the Rivi- era.
 Said Max Pemberton. who Is an au- thority on Monte Carlo:
 T am convinced that the work we are about to undertake, the suppression of Monte Carlo would prove far nobler and of more practical value to humanity propositions at The Hague Peace Con- ference"
 Monte Carlo is the haunt of every adventurer and adventures in the world. It is astounding how many big swindles and thefts have been planned at Monte Carlo.
 'The obvious curse of the place is that fools go there to make money out of the tables, and rogues go there to make money out of the fools. The att m0sphere Is most demoralizing to young people, who lose their heads. and also all sense of the value of money.
 Another great evil is that of pure English girls succumbing to the atmos- phere.
 "They are often brought in contact aG the tables with undesirable persons, with whom they actually converse.
 '"rhe government of every country is perfectly aware that Monte Carlo should be suppressed. but the diplo- matic situation makes action impossi- ble. and France, under whose protect ion Monte Carlo exists, Is placed in @ tNlrfv bal I am sure our movement will grow strong enough to force the powers to act.'
 T think it Is atrocious." says Mir. Caine, that the conditions which are suppressed in all the greater countries of Europe should constitute the, only reason for the separate existence of the little Kingdom of Monaco.
 "Everyone recognizes that the Prince of Monaco is an enlightened man, with no particular love of Monte Carlo and it's casino, and, of course, it Is impos> sible to ask him voluntarily to surren- come.
 "But have not the Powers of Europe, by whose protection the Kingdom of Monaco exists, right to say that the laws of Monaco shall not encourage a vice which is demoralizing not only to it's own pople, but to the peoples that come to 1t from across the from
 
 The sooner that Is done the better, for then Monte Carlo may become what nature meant 1t to be--one of the most enchanting places in the world
 Monaco can never be said to be well governed while it appeals to one of the worst passions in humanity. While it is a God -blest corner of the earth in climate, and scenic beauty. 1t is morally the plague-spot of Europe. It is the rallyinggrcund of the worst criminals in the world. the most dan gerous men, and the basest women.
 The Casino could not exist an hour if the chances were fair. It Is not fair. And the public knows it Is not fair and the profits of the casino go OF increasing.
 The casino is also the cause of almost as much mental degeneracy among the upper classes of Europe as drink itself Glance around the tables at the tired, drawn. pafItd faces. and bleared and deadened eyes of the regular frequenters of the place. and say if not nine out of ten of them are not plainly betrayfng nearly all the outward symtoms of softening of the brain.
 What wonder? On it's own theory as an honest gambling house, the casino is the dullest and dreadlest re- sort of humanity of all the known world, and in It's appeal to the lust of individual gain against the collective loss 1t is only calculated to waste the lives, to harden the hearts. and to soften the brains of the people who haunt 1t day by day. Europe should put 1t down. even If the powers had to compound with the Prince of Monaco"
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