The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-05-07

Guthrie. OKLA. May t...--"Nnru
Oklahoma was opened to settlement
April g2. 1889. one OF the first tasks
of citizens was the control of v,'
as it appeared i'm its different forms
in the various communities said an
Oklahoma pioneer. The only law
wa, federal law. and such ordnance
as were enacted by the provlsiou"I
governments i'm the towns. there was
mo- territorial form of government uu-
ill June &. 1890. at which time con.
grcss extended the laws of Nebraska
over the new territory.
In this interval of fourteen months.
the people of the different commuut-
ties made and enforced their own
laws. and Justice was obtained lue,
about as often as it is now.
The people quickly adjusted them
selves to conditions, and If there were
unusual regulations IN some of do"
towns. IL was because the cloth w,s
cut to fit local needs. Many that
could not be- driven out OF commuui
ties were restrained and controlled lu
manner peculiar to the situation.
The original ordinances of the pro.
yisioua municipal government OF
Guthrie, from April -. 1889. to July
3D. 1889. contemplated all the needs
oi a frontier town Colonel d. -. Dyer
once United States Indian agent o'
Darlington. and now a wealthy citizen
OF Atlanta. Ga. was the first mayor
and c. +. Hough. the first city clerk
he original ordinance book is owned
by a resident of Guthrie.
The trend OF gambling in Oklahoma
unlike THE Rake's Progress has
been upward, instead of downward, b..
ing conducted first openly in the
streets, then in buildings whore tn"
games could be seen from the streets.
and finally upstairs, with lookouts 20
sound the aarm at the appearance on
officers This latter stage was not
reached until about ten years ago.
Ordinance number 2l of the proNiH
ional government of Guthrie provided
that all owners and keepers Of gamhl-
ng devices with certain exception,
should pay fine ot so and that this
fine should not be imposed on tn
same person oftenor than once IN thir.
" days The mayor was authorized
10 appoint special policemen who's"
duty II was to enforce this ordinance.
The exception IN this ordinance was
"thimblc rigging" and the "shcll
game" both of when were outlawcd
Keepers Of these games could be ar
rested every day, and fined in "A sun
not greater than $500. This did not
mean. necessarily, that the unforbli
den games were ON the square, rath
er that the "thimblc riggcr" and the
shell game artists were transients
who could swoop down upon "A towa
make big winning and then jump tC
another town while the parapherna
liza of the other games gave more
guaranty OF permaneucy and create,
opportunity for the sucker thd
"hollered" to get his money bacr
should the game be too rank
, In those days Guthrie was iillcC
,,,;tb auitatnr. ,,hn HAHad tho 1unui
clpal government, especially in towl
lot disputes, and threatening al
| kinds of treason and rebellion, Th'
. provisional government had specia
ordinance for these iucipient bonn
r throwers which read:
ANY person who by the violent ,
. inhammatory language in a publ
8 place incites people TO violence O
= sedition, or any person who shall er
courage resistance to the eXecutio
a OF any ordinance OF this city, shall y
deemed guilty Of misdemeanor anC
e on conviction thereof, shall be fine
d not less than S25 nor more thau SlC'
> or be imprisoned in the citJ jail 70
= not less than thirty nor more tha
e sixty days
A heavy occupation tax was impo
= ed upon all merchants and yender
and this revenue. together with tha
received from gambling houses an
disorderly places, was the chief sourc
, of the citys income,
The town was without fire prote
ton and the sale or use OF freworS
was prohibited under an ordinanc
. that imposed a hne OF not more tina
$50 for each offense.
1t was common practice fC
scamps to accept clothing, money an
other things of value for safe-keepir
and then disappear with the propert
Hna nf from SI0 IN x1OO WAS IN