Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1909-03-05
D MARCH 5, 1909
The LAST DITCH

Assembly bill ~, the anti-gambling
bill, owing to the absence of some cf its
friends when it reached the Senate, was
referred to the Judiciary Committee. 1t
is supposed that a majority of this COM
mittee are hostile to the measure.
But even n majority of that commit
tee does not dare make an adverse re-
port on the bill. They know the public
sentiment of the State demands IL law
prohibiting gambling. The gentlemen
who are playing a game of politics in the
upper house of the legislature and who
ut the same time, TO the best of their
to the dictates of the representatives of
the gaming interests, will try to dodge
the issue and befuddle the people, by
reporting the bill favorably with the
proviso that certain amendments be
tackled on to it. The chief of these
amendments, perhaps the only one, will
be an amendment deferring the date
when the law will become effective
until some date after the general election
of November, 1910.
The purpose of the amendment is to
give the gamblers another year in which
to reap the financial gains which will
come to them through others mems
weakness and folly aud postpone the
operation of the law until after the
next election so that spinelcss Legislators
may attempt to shift the responsibility
back to the people.
On this amendment the hired at
torney of the gamblers, Asscmblyman
Dodge and his followers i'll the Assem-.
bly,, in whose ears the voice of the
gamblers and wildcattcrs of Reno, Ely,
Tonopah and Goldfcld sounded louder
than the demands of the decent citizens
OF the State, made their last and most
determined stand and on this the real
representatives of the people won the
victory which made possible an effective
anti gambling law.
Now the bill is in the Senate and
again the enemies of the bill come for
ward with their specious proposal of
amendment. The gamblers are fight
ing i'll their last ditch. Their only hope
is that some corrupt and cOwardly Sen
ator will deadcn his ears to the demands
OF his constituency and do the bidding
OF the enemies of the people. The
gamblers are in the last ditch. For
they know that if routed in the Senate
they IN InVCn ~ nffnt. 1,F,at TI,,..
cannot for one monument suppose that
the Governor will veto the bill if the
Senate passes it. Govcrson Dickerson's
shrewd mind and active conscience will
both tell him where the path of duty
lies and that the path of duty is the
path of wisdom.
The people will watch the course of
tho bill through the Senate with nm
ceasing vigilance, The votes of every
Senator will be recorded. To amend
Assembly bill No. "a is TO play the
game rs the gamblers desire. A vote i n
of any amendment is Il vote
against tho wishes Of tho enlightened
conscience of the people.
"UI Ho nClhhIpI tIlnk he can cSlue
responsibility and fool the people by
voting to amend the bill us the garnb-
lers want it amended and then pass the
bill rs thus amended. Duty, honor,
fidelity to the people all demand that
the bill he passed ~ it came from the
Assembly and without amendment.
While we will keep our Dyes on the
action of the Senators from Elko County
fortunately we need not fear that they
will bear watching. Public sentiment
of Elko County, the sentiment of its
permanent. substantial, good citizens.
who are the ones composing the mai.
GRITTY of its population, will not stand
for or approve any Senate amendments
to the bill. To go contrary to that
sentiment which is awake and active
would mean dishOilor aud political bur.
ial to any representative from Elko
County. But Senators Hunter and
Coryell know tho wishes Of their home
people and are undoubtedly in hearty
accord with them. Aud we believe that
with thcin, there are q majority of Sen.
ators who will not fall into the pitfall tho
enemies of the bill, through the aid Of
the Judiciary committee. are now digg.
ing.
The gamblers are In the last ditch
90 to them Senators, and win the Vic.
tory for civic decency and better moral
and business conditions, which your
honest, courageous votes can now easily
win.