Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-15
SEEK FEDERAL
INJUNCTION TO
PROTECT VICE
CHINESE GAMBLERS WANT TO
RESUME GAMES
POLICE DETERMINED TO EN-
FORCE THE LAWS
orientaIs Want Officials Enjoined
Against Entering Their Places.
Search Warrants May Be
Found Necessary

"a tan in Chinatown and bring back
"A to that almost depopulated dis
trict the Chinese who have gone where
they can play their favorite game, has
been concocted by Oriental minds in
terested in Chinatown business and
property. They propose to ask that
the United States court intervene to
protect them in their gambling. To
this end, it is asserted, they have en-
ployed the law firm of Lawler, Allen,
Van Dyke and Jutten to investigate
and give advice on the legal phases of
the situation. The ultimate purpose of
the Celestials is to secure federal in
junction against the police of Los An
geles.
Fan-tan is the life of the Chinese.
They will not live where they cannot
gamble at their favorite game and until
the Harper administration found it
self forced to clean up this form of
gambling, fiourished in Chinatown in a
most wide open fashion. When the
Harper administration woke up to
the fact that something was required
of it and with the hope that attention
would be detracted from other no.
torious resorts, the lid was ordered
closed down on Chinatown, and Ser
geant Sebastian and his men practic-
ally wiped all form of gambling from
the district. When the gambling was
stopped the Chinese gamblers began an
exodus that still continues, and in de-
spair the property owners and Chinese
business men see their profits going to
other cities. At the present rate there
will soon be no gamblers left in CHINA
town.
Injunction Worked Before
The interior arrangement of Chinese
buildings is peculiar. These interiors
| Of taFT - The stem of the
'T'' forms the entrance. This entrance
| gives no hint of what is going on be-
+, hind the heavy hangings that divide
the, rear room from the entrance. 1t is
In this rear room that fan-tan is
| played.
Since the order to keep the fan-tan
games closed has gone forth patrol
men maintain a rigid inspection of
these rear rooms and while the police
are freely permitted to enter, gambling
cannot be carried on. The Chinese
want an injunction to prohibit the po-
| lice from entering these rear rooms.
The injunction plan is not original
at this time. 1t was worked success
fully several years ago when Charles
Elton was chief of police. Gambling
was ordered stopped in Chinatown. The
Chinese secured an injunction prohibit
ing the police from entering their
private apartments and Chief Elton,
apparently, was quite ready to accept
this situation. At least he made no eff
fort to set aside the restraining order.
In fact 1t was more than broadly
hinted at the time that the arrange
ment was not distasteful to him.
But if the Chinese secure this in
junction they have a different caliber
man to deal with in the person of Chief
Dishman. Dishman has stated fire.
uuently that he will keep the lid on
gambling in Chinatown, as he proposes
ton, APt 1n oif
Gambling Is prohibited by law, and the
chief has conceived 1t is his duty toI
enforce the law.
Has Strong Support
Behind the chief is a police commits
sion composed of men of determlna-
tion, and they also have the idea that
enforcement of the laws is what they
were put there for Thew will back
the chief to the last ditch as long as he
is in the right. Should the injunction
be secured the chief has the power to
arm himself with search warrants
should be care to take a chance of con-
tempt of court by stepping right over
that injunction.
The hand of Charley Chong, the
official go-between for Chinatown, is
plainly seen in this last move of the
Celestials. Chong is alleged to be
one of those who have corrupted former
officials who have received large reve-
nues from the fantan games In China
town. This is Chong's chief business,
finding the price of an official and de-
livering the price.
1t was with some amazement that
Chong butted into the new administra-
tion. Dishman had been chief but a
few days when Chong visited him in
his private office. Chong had been in
the office but a few minutes when he
came out ,hurriedly, gently touching a
portion of his anatomy, with an ex-
preston of mingled pain and wonder,
and behind him, framed i'll the doorway
of his office stood Chief Dishman,
towering above the Chinese with wrath
oozing from every pore. No one knows
Just what happened during that inter-
view but those who know Chong and
"Dish" form the guess that the Chinese
tried his usual tactics and learned a
lesson he will not soon forget
A few days after his interview with
the chief Chong called on Mayor Alex
ander. When Chong was admitted to-
the mayor he carefully closed the door.
But the mayor knows Chong and his
reputation, and he Immediately opened
it again and demanded that it be left
omen. Chong asked permission tol
sneak to the mayor alone but Mr.. AL
exander called in his secretary and
told Chong that whatever he had tol
saw he could say it in the presence of
Mr.. Henderson. Chohg looked sneep,,,
ish' said "Dishman, he heap no good"
and. puzzled at the new race of men
to whom the offer of a bribe seemed
offensive, backed out of the room. He
has not been near the mayors office
since. l
The administration is cooly await
ing the next move of the Chinese in
their effort to reopen their gambling
houses. and is prepared to checkmate
every move. The lid is on in China
town to stay during Alexander's term
of office at least.
State Bank Robbed