Semi-weekly herald., 1909-02-11
The Sheriff's Raid

saw 1T to commend the sheriff and
marshal for Saturdaynights raid.
Consistency personifed.- Morning
Democrat.
The Democrat always puts its foot
In its mouth Now that 1t has asked
the question and trying to make out
mat the action OF Sheriff Clarke is
wonderful. The Herald viii say that
It Is glad that the eyes of Sheriff
Clarke have been opened at last and
we trust that he will make good from
this on. But how about the past TWEEN
ti.five months. The Democrat wants
The Herald TO commend the sheriff
for doing something at this late day
in the face of the fact that the same
evil has been going on day in and
day out during the entire twenty-five
months the sheriff has been in office.
It was going on a year ago, last fail
during the election campaign. Why
did he not act then? Why this lale
day? These are questions that the
general public is asking. Again, with
| the evil winked at SO long, The Herald
believes that other tactics should have
been taken before making a raid We
think the right way would have been
! to serve written notice on saloon men
and other places where gambling
games have been conducted that they
must absolutely close on certain
date, and after that upon the slightest
violation persons conducting games
would be arrested and punished. We
| think this much was due the men who
have been permitted to continue SO
long without being molested. If the
! proprletors of places raided were thus
served and informed that the sheriff
meant business then the proprietors
would have no kick coming, but If
raids are made without first giving
due notice that the law is 10 be strict
| ly enforced, then It is not our way
OF doing business.
However. we commend the declara-
ton of Sheriff Clarke made in these
columns yesterday-"th private gam.
bling games must stop while 1 am in
office" We trust that this will be
enforced without fear or favoritism
not only in Durango but any place in
the county where wheels and poker
I games are run.
And while on this subject The Her
! o1 fg1t "a adj . LoI ~,
saloon men OF Durango should of their
own volition resolve TO follow the law
regarding midnight and Sunday clos
ing. They will benefit themselves by
so doing. In his sermon Sunday night
Rev. Mr.. Scruggs said: Saloon keep
ers by their Illegal acts and violation
Of law have done more to advance
the cause Of temperance and prohi
bition than all the temperance cru.
saders in the land. II saloon men
lived up to the law they would be in
complete control of the situation"
The general public only gets aroused
when people get to talking about open
violations and ignoring public de-
mands The Herald does not set itself
up as personification of goodness, and
we do not believe the public will in
! terfere or has any objection to stuff
| games for pastlme or the drinks, but
the general public does object to per
| centage games, II is natural for man.
kind to take chances. Men bet on
horse races, on baseball, on elections.
| Where such wagers are made between
I individuals there is no, or very little
kick from the public. What the pub
lie objects to is gambling where the
party or parties conducting the per.
centage games are the only winners in
The long run.
What would one think of father
who permitted his child to play with
neighbor's son year or two without
objection and then without a word of
remonstrance give the boy a wallop.
ing for playing the same game he had
been permitted to indulge in for years
The saloon keeper. the gambler,
/ ehouiu nave the same positive warning
that one should give child. We do
not believe in raids until every other
method has failed. Then go after
them to the full limit.
Again, why commend the sheriff for
doing something he promised under
a signed card to do over two years
ago. Be consistent Was the raid put
off until Just before the city cleo
zion in order to make a grandstand
play. II not why so long delayed, In
fact. Durango has been tame of late
10 what 1t was certain times last sum.
mef and fall. The Democrat should
know better than ask such questions
knowing the real situation.
Now do not let any one mIsunder.
stand us. Sheriff Clarke has The Her
AIDS support in issuing the order tha,
gambling must cease, But why com
mendation when the same conditions
have been permitted the past two
years without a word of protest, so
far as We know Of, and why should