Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-29
DEMOCRATICCLUB
TABOOSGAMBLING
NO MORE LOCKED DOORS ON
CARD GAMES
NEW DISCIPLINE TO ERADICATE
EVIL PRACTICES
Directors Hold TWo-Hour Session and
Take Action-Clark and Cake
Are Still 'Mem=
bers

Frankly admitting that gambling had
demoralized the Democratic club, the
directors of that organization, after
session lasting two hours, last night
declared that gambling had ended for
ever. The directors were agreed that
this course must be followed or ruin
would come.
Incidentally the directors were not
presented with the designations or
PATSY" Clark, steward, or Captain
George M Cake. Both are still mem
bers in good standing OF the Demo-
cratic club. Captain Cake denies that
his expulsion was ever contemplated,
but directors of the club say that ne
has been charged with responslolll.s;y
for some of the reprehensible condl-
tions. They say however, that 1t was
almost impossible to locate RESPONSE
bility for the games that were pulled
off,.
According to Secretary Crandall,
numbers of men would get together
and organize a game and lock them
selves in one of the rooms in the club
and gamble for money. For long
time there has been an effort to stop
this. he says Now the directors have
tabooed any card or other games, ex-
cept pool, except in the buffet, where
ali are to be under the scrutiny of the
pension of the members offending and
expulsion if repeated.
In order that there may be no "secret
sessions all the keys to the rooms
except the key to the entrance door,
will be turned over to President Eu-
gene Germain and all the rooms Will
be open to the inspection of members
at any time.
New Discipline
AS a means of enforcing the new
discipline the directors removed Pat
sy" Clark as steward and manager
and appointed Harry Ginter in his
place. Ginter has been assistant man
ager. He is authorized to eject any
members who will not abide by the
rules. To further emphasize the new
order of things the directors appointed
a house committee, composed OF Presl-
dent Germain, Secretary Crandall and
Joseph Mesmer. This committee has
full charge of the club rooms and two
members may act as the committee.
In the absence of the committee Man
ager Ginter is the representative OF the
new discipline.
lished stories of the gambling have
been somewhat exaggerated. Those
more familiar with the actual facts
say they have not been exaggerated
and that the directors would have ex-
ercised the strong hand OF discipline
weeks ago If they had known the real
facts. AS 1t is the directors are being
commended for their action.
Secretary Crandall says that no re-
organization of the club was provided
for by the directors but one is likely
after the primaries and the county
convention are over. He says the
clubs moral standard will be high and
that it will be maintained by vigilance
and the exercise of the punitive meas
ures authorized by the directors. When
reorganization is begun it is likely
new directorate will be chosen and the
membership largely increased.
No Wicket on Door
From now on the Democratic club
will be open and access to it will be
free. Mayor Harper criticised the pub
lished statement that there had been
a. wicket on the club room entrance
door in it's former quarters.
"There never was a wicket on any
door at any time" said the mayor.
Nathan Cole, another director, says
the attempts to prevent gambling in
the club have been constant for nearly
a year, but that those who wanted to
gamble always found a way to organ
ize their games and conduct them.
This, he says, will not be impossible
as the card games for pleasure will
be under constant scrutiny.
All are agreed now that gambling
has been eradicated and that the new
era of the club will mean increased
membership and general social and
partisan usefulness.