The San Francisco call., 1909-04-11
S1OO A MINUTE TO
DEFEND MACHINES
Nickel in the Slot Men Let Law-
yer Name Fee, Then
Change Minds -.
Ready to Pay Charge Until Op-
position Developed; Sum
Nearly Raised

N'e siol machine men say they
We're prepared 20 pay an attorney TO
plead their cause before the board Of
supervisors. He was to talk for Is
minutes and was to receive for the
orlef service the sum of $500. Those
We're the terms on which thev stood
ready 10 engage Hiram w. Johnson to
appear for them Monday. At the last
minute, after $1,000 of the sum had
been raised. an obstacle was encoun-
tered. the machine men say, and the
plan was abandoned.
The case is said TO be without paral-
lei in the annals Of the California bar
It is said TO be the largest proportion
? ate fee ever offered a lawyer on the
Pacific coast.
The conditions surrounding the nego-
tiations We're unusual Johnson. it is
stated, did not desire to take the case
and when asked his terms placed the
figure at point that he believed would
terminate negotiations The slot ma
chine men. however, set about at once
10 raise the retainer and had nearly
succeeded when they met an uneXpect-
ed opposition from certain wholesale
iobacconists and altered their plan OF
campaign.
LAWYERS NAME PRICE
committee representing the cigar
men took the matter in hand yester-
Gay. At the head of this committee
were Thomas Shortall, proprietor of the
stand at Eddy and Mason streets, and
= =. Holmes, who conducts a cigar
store at SutteT and Fillmore streets.
With others Of the committee they
called upon Johnson. They wanted
him TO appear before the board of su-
pervisors on Monday and argue against
size ordinance abolishing the nickel de-
Rices- Debate is limited before the
board and he would have but Is min
utes 10 present the case What would
lie charged?
Johnson smiled and said, $500"
A bit Of quick mental arithmetic told
the committee that this meant sI00 a
minute. Ordering automobile, they
hegan 10 canvass among the trade and
by 3 o'clock IN the afternoon had raised
$1,000. They went among the whole
sale tobacco dealers to raise the ball
ance. but found that many OF the
wholesalers We're opposed to the slot
machines When this new objection
was encountered it was deemed ad-
Visable to postpone any such expensive
employment
Thomas Shortall, one Of the members
OF the committee, said last night that
Johnson had asked for $1,000 for the
l5 minutes appearance. but that after
the committee had raised the money
they changed their plans.
Johnson said last night that there
had been some proposition. but he de-
clined TO discuss the details. 1t is stat
cd by his friends that the fee named
was only his way Of declining the case
and that he would not have taken it
9 -. l. !
When the ordinance comes up tomor-
row for final passage, another attempt
will be made to gain a further lease of
life for the slot machine. Supervisor
McLeran. who favored the two machine
plan. may bring forward a proposal TO
abolish the machines on January l OF
next year. instead of July l of this year.
This proposal provides that in the
meantime the number of machines at
each stand shall be reduced to two and
the play back feature eliminated.
Tho proponents of the ordinance
abolishing the machines on July 1 will
stand ready TO resist any attempt to
gain further time for the nickel de-
vices. Supervisors Connolly and Comte.
who have fathered the measure, will
oppose any delay at this time.
There can be no doubt as to the wis
dom Of this ordinance" said Connolly
Yesterday afternoon. There is no
argument IN taNOr or the slot machines
which can measure against its evils
They say for the slot machine that it
brings in a license revenue of $4,000
a year. The sum is less than that. but
what does that count against the tre-
mendous sum in earnings that IL alb
serbs or the evil It spreads in the COM
munity? I am no Puritan, but 1 do say
that no such instrument should be
foisted upon the public that invites
gambling. ! am opposed to open
machine represents
The loss in revenue is a small mat
ter compared to the larger ends TO be
attained. We can get the revenue in
many different ways. II necessary we
can add to the tax levy.
LET 1T DIE
To the argument that the ordinance
viii drive people out OF business I can
reply that II any business depends upon
The slot machine for its existence we
can well afford TO let 1t die. 1 can not
see that the trade stimuiant argument
is a Legitimate one. II the cigar stands
are entitled to this trade stimulant'
why not other enterprises?
I protest that no man of modest
salary has a right to spend IS or $40
a week on these machines. The ma
chimes are there to invite IL and the
play goes on. I have seen ii. We all
have seen IT. Young man who can ill
afford il are regular patrons Of these
places.
slot machine ceases to be a business
Is the simple truth OF the situation"
.