The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-11-14
DEALS GAMBLING ORDINANCE.

DEALS GAMBLING ORDINANCE.
In the guise of an amendment offered
by Councilman Deal. at the session of
the Council held Tuesday night, the
Spearing ordinance, entertained to its
first reading by this body at a meeting
in October, has been nullifed. at least
as it was designed to operate against
gamblers.
AS reported in the official publication
of the Councils session, the Deal ordi-
nance should not have been considered
as an amendment to the Spearing ordi-
nance, then pending on its second and
third and final reading and passage.
Whatever amendments were offered
should have been Incorporated, if adopt
ed, in the Spearing ordinance, which
was before the Council conformable to
its rules, and, as amended, it was sub
ject to approval or defeat. The Deal
ordinance, as interposed, should have
been declared out of order, as it was as
substitute, practically new ordinance,
and should have been delayed for action
| thirty days in accordance with the rules
of the Council
From the Caucasian's view and un-
Outstanding of the proceedings, the val
idity of the Deal ordinance is question
able, but there can be no misgivings or
doubt as to its being a farce and it may
be construed as a discredit, if not slap
at the face of society which has and
will continue to indulge in social games
of cards at their homes, regardless of
the Deal ordinance.
1t is surprising that the councilmen,
if in a minority, who are recorded as
favoring the suppression of gamblers
and gambling, as construed by all sensi-
Bile men and as being responsive to the
intent of the Constitution which de-
clares that gambling is vice and laws
shall be enacted to suppress it, did not
demonstrate against this Deal ordinance
but accepted it unanimously and with
acclaim.
| As it had been the talk on the streets
that the Spearing ordinance was to be
defeated or so amended as to render it
Ineffective in its operation against gam
bling and the tin horn" gambler, any
amendment or suggestion coming from
the other side, with gold bearing gifts"
as it were, should have been received
with suspicion, but it would seem that
there are times when good men may be
misled under the influence of an inn
pulse. Had single councilman raised
finger against the Deal ordinance, the
cloyen foot would have been visible at
glance.
Why should there be any opposition
to any ordinance designed to prohibit
and suppress gambling, as it is gener-
| ally understood to be-a vice which the
Constitution of this State has decreed
must be suppressed-the gambling as
practiced by professional gamblers and
the fraternity Of tin horns" having lit
tie if any conscientious scruples, whose
only aim is to win, fair or foul, by en-
ticing if possible the unwary victim,
when when in the game has as much
chance of winning as a cricket of living
in pen of hungry turkey gobblers.
On its face the Deal ordinance is
specific 1T shall be unlawful for any
person to gamble with cards of any de-
scription, or engage in any gambling
game, with cards of any description, in
the City of Shreveport, for money or
representatives of money, or anything
of value" for which are penalties for
its violation, but it is not declared to be
a crime to gamble in other games, and
| therefore the gambler and the tin horn"
may if SO disposed play at any game
besides cards, and skin his victim of his
money without being amenable to law
under the Deal ordinance
How absurd
It is evident that Councilman Deal, in
his zeal to protect the home from the
evils of card playing for prizes, which,
as he is quoted to have said, teaches the
children how TO play, he should have
said gamble, is not logical, since the
children, as well as men and women, can
play for prizes with dominoes or other
games under which gambling may be
conducted with IMMUNITY.
If Councilman Deal is not misled, or
let it be conceded that he has been mis-
led, he can not escape the criticism that
if it is his intention and purpose to sup
press gamblers and gambling, he should