The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-11


the Utah state legislature. Speaking
from the theme. "Ogden's. demand that
gambling be legalized,". he said In
| part:
II has come to the point where Og-
den must demand Of the legislature of
| 1909 relief from Its intolerable dilem-
ma We hardly need to confess that
we have all the machinery OF govern
ment We have gone through the mo-
tions OF electing men to the positions
where their one and only function is
the suppression of law-breaking. We
have not asked of them that, they rid
Ogden wholly OF law-breakers. That
Is next 10 impossible. But In view OF
the fact that lawlessness goes on open
ly and defiantly, one is forced to either
Of two conclusions: That the officials
are incapable of coping witn the prob
lem or that the officials connive at the
open and defiant violation OF law.
| shall only mention facts The case
stands something like this up here:
A week ago we had FIVE gambling
houses running wide open In Ogden
Toward the end of December, after
little formal notification, certain gen.
tlemen of the green cloth marched to
the city bastlle and upon inquiry,
learned that the city wanted 1929 from
each what for?" they finally sug-
gested. Then the law was read which
prohibits gambling within the city lin
its and within the state limits. They
were much surprised to learn OF these
ordinances and agreed that the assess
ment was fair enough in view of the
fact that what they were doing was
contrary to law So the money was
left with the clerk of the court. For
$299 they had gained two things: per-
mission from the city to openly and
blatantly violate the state and city
laws and also protection from the
police Of Ogden against any noisy in
reference with their law breaking.
Here are the names of the men who
were charged with running gambling
houses in defiance of law and who
openly confessed their guilt by paying
the amount requested;
w. ]. POWERS.
]. F. SMITH G. COMPANY.
CREIGHBAUM & PETERSON. 4
BURNS & CARTER.
REINWATER & O'HARA. ,
They were charged as / nave stated.
If they were guiltless | fancy they
would resent and fight the charge.
Three other thoughtful gentlemen,
knowing how dull and dreary home is
for some of tnelr brethren and wishing
to brighten the lives of men subjected
to bullet-llke biscuits have arranged
with the city and the police TO run
quiet little games of poker. Last year
at this time six were engaged in this
humanitarian work. They paid $50
a month. Most Of them were In the
rear of saloons. although the fight for
a long time was to put all gambling
above the ground floor Now we have
only three. but each pays s1oO so that
the result financially to the city is just
what IL was a year ago.
/ add the names Of these three gen.
tlemen:
A. IVES.
D. w COATS.
f. ]. MILLER.
Lest some one should conclude that
had gone spying about the business
of others, | may say that this list was
taken from the books of the clerk OF
the municipal court. The present
county attorney very graciously looked
the matter UP with the identical cour-
tesy which marked all his faVors TO
me as clerk of the court.
Now. as | said, one might conclude
that the police are openly protecting
this forbidden vice. There is still an
other way out of the awkward position
we are in. Maybe the officials do not
know OF the presence of gambling. l
may have rated our force too highly.
Put the State Journal laVished all sorts
OF praise upon the police for their bril-.
liant catch OF the Corlew burglars. If
the case Is one of ignorance, perhaps
an extension OF time is necessary.
But our city detective, l am told, Is
famed all over this western country
for his ability In ferreting out law
breakers. Detection of crime is not
my profession, but on last Thursday
evening put on white tie so that the
disguise was complete and thus ar"
rnyed I detected four places where
gambling was proceeding. was going
TO say-merrlly. But of all the times
have gone through this privileged
quarter, this was the dreariest There
was gloom most everywhere except IN
j. F. Smiths place. The gamolng
parnphernalia was not bright and at
tractiye. 1t was worn and detected
looking. Down at Creigbaums the
cards on one Of the faro tables were
SO bruised that l couldn't make out
what tnay were. wanted 10 suggest
a new board II was here that The
roulette man, when my friend asked
WHY no keno games were allowed In
A. hn rn1fSn here
would and did stand for the games
that are now running-faro, craps
roulette. twenty-one and poker. both
straight and bent. But / started out
TO inform the police where the gam
tling houses are at present iocated.
First OF all TO save them unnecessary
trouble, | urge upon them the need
lessness OF going very far below Grant
avenue on Twenty-fifth street. for last
Monday the institution over the Grill
Just simply failed TO open" Was
II closed by the police" my friend
asked "Oh, my, bless you; no. 1t
Just closed of ITSELF was the hurried
reply. Then we made further inquiry
OF the city-pald policeman who acts as
Belle London's special watchman con-
cerning the closing and he said he
didn't know the reasons except may
be they couldn't raise the $299." This
wasn't very complimentary TO tho
police, but what could we do?
So then, to that policeman, supposed
10 be on the track Of the yiolators OF
title 90, chapter 80 OF the compiled
statutes OF Utah. 1907. whisper. II
you Will approach 326 Twenty-fifth
street very quietly. you Will find sa'