The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-08-17
THE PRESS AS A "KNocKER. +"

OF commerce. dubs The Press "knocker' against the
best interests of the city and loses no occasion to DISPLAY
his enmty and resentment.
Doubtless few other members of that organization
possessed OF the notion that they alone represent the
men of the the chamber business men and the rest of
the city generally share the sentiment They have
dlsapproved of The Press for long time on account of
its unequvoca stand for the interests of the working
and woman. Now The Press is accused of being a
"knocker'' for these additional reasons:
1t endorsed the action of the council in prohibiting
poolroom gambling.
1t condemned the farcica proceeding of prohibiting
this form of robbery at the poorooms and permitting it
at the track
The paper took the view that if pool gambling, or
rather SHINING, was prohibited at all it ought to be
prohibited because is wrong and detrimental the
community.
1t denied the legal moral right of the city council
to that this form Of graft misdemeanor or crime
in all but section of the city the exception being made
because small body of of less influence de-
manded that such course be pursued.
The action OF the Messrs. Gooda Cosgrove ct al in
driving, maybe ''leading" the council to this course
The Press has not hestaed and does hesitate to
denounce most selfish and deliberate violation of the
principles of governing the regulation of vice for the
protection of society in general.
The expedlent of forcing compromise with petty
crime law already passed and signed under the plea
that business interests would lose a certain amount of
profit future expectations unless such course was fol-
lowed the weakest bades surrender of principle to
greed and determination to defeat law enforcement that
has ever been witnessed in this city.
Worse than that, it is species of anarchy inflicted
through the fear connivance of city officers
1t was not amendment desired by the great body of
decent hard working people of the ctythe people whose
trade Mr. Gooda desires most because they able and
willing to pay their bills
1t not demanded by the professional men, nor BY
the business interests outside the small circle interested
as business proposition in the Interstate fair organ
ization.
The Press has it from good authority that in the fever
ish lobbying that preceded the last meeting of the con
Gil Mr. Gooda assured the counclmen who had not been
converted that his firm had made expenditure
amounting to the of 5000 in anticipation of
the fair trade
George IT, Crane president of the fair association was
solemny asserted to have rsked $3.50 in extra stock
of shoes.
These, unless The Press has been badly misinformed
by gentlemen who listened to the arguments samples
of considerations for which Mayor Moore consented to be
hustled OFF to the east; for which abortive bunglng
compromise with wrong jobbed through the city
council. Had such campaign been waged by labor
union the wrath of the present perpetrators would have
shaken the town. The Cowles papers would have bazed
as much as they able with good citizenship and
spect for law.
Because The Press could not be shut up these sheets
shut up naturally dsrups the arrangement of the
scheme and forces attention to matter those implicated
would prefer opportunity to forget. Wherefore The
Press is ''knocker"
Mr.. Goodal and the others admit that their method
wrong but claim that the city had to have the fair
That is to say that the city of Spokane cannot survive
deprivation of the Interstate far the fair cannot exist
without gambing therefore law must be aside by
in order that the fair may not miss date and the
city preserved to her destiny.
To draw decent and respectable people to the fair
grounds the city must be thrown open to the horde
touts nhorn gamblers and hodups that have become the
curse of the modern track.
OF course Mr.. Goodal would violently resent being
classed with these people. He will not be ntroduc
ing them to his employees very likely On the contrary
io in tho;r obobl
ceve prompt discharge.
But if somebody else's clerk daughter
TO tempt the demoralizing influence of the betting pit
its attendant evils Mr. Godal is perfectly willing to
his influence in seeing that the way is made easy and
open
He nsfes it by the plea that he and other deal