The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1911-10-13
The Confessions of
West Baden Gambler.


Come easy, go easy" The Old weather-5eaten
phrase IS still the rule among the easy money geters
and will be as long as there are ''chumps for the
gamblers to get their money from.
The gambler who saves much money is seldom
found Some few have done this, but they are in
the minority. have ganbled in nearly all the lar
ger cities IN the United States, and have gambed in
this valley for number of years, and think /
know something of the ''tricks of the trade" and
how some of the ''easy marks are caused to loosen
from their cash." The game in this valley is not
as strong as it was some years ago. and am tired
% great amount Of work 1t now requires to get
When you have to scheme with the officials andthe
courts and at the same time expend large sums of
money in order torun, then it is that the game does
not pay Wherever and whenever gambling is going
on TO any extent you safely say that the officers
are on the payroll. for gambling can more exist
where you have officers who on the square thana
man can argue with stump on fire.
1t requires much more money to satisfy grating
officers than the fellow on the outside knows any
thing about. Contrary to the general opinion, the
men on the opposite side of the table, who deal the
gambling games to the 'chumps," are not happy
with their winnings, and as class are the most dis
satisfied people In the world
The care and worry they have to put forth IN a
game to win makes them naturally suspicious of
every one, and dlSgrunted, narr0w-mnded and peSS-
mStic. All novelty OF the game has passed. and the
work of winning is the hardest part of the play All
ment is gone, there being no chance of losing and
when they sit in game they know they will win 1t
is only question of how long the money of the in
nocent will last and the time 1t takes to play the
game. All the pleasant features OF the game are
lost with the absolute knowledge of winning. There
is no relaxation no social pleasure and uncertain
ity of chance. The professional gambler enters in
to the game with the same enthusiasm as ne would
in digging ditch. have made considerable fort
une in gambling, but have made up my mind to quit
while have enough in store for rainy day, for its
only matter of time when some honest men viii
slip into office in Orange County, and then you
make up your mind that the gambler will have to go
and the game here will be on the blink. The net
results of gambling are not worth the profits.
To sum up the gamblers assets and liabilities, he
forfes the respect and companionshp of all decent
people and gradually loses his own sef-respect he
is always in search of prey, ne must stlfe the finer
senses of manhood in order to smile at people and
rob them at the same time bis l-gotten money does
not as rule stick.
Many happy homes and many promising young
men have gone wrong result of the gambling
table The desire to replace the first money they
have taken from their employer, with their winnings
is so strong that before long they are in so bad there
is no chance for them, and then this crowd of dis
honest officials who have been fostering gambling
get painfully busy right quick and cry aloud and
spare not the fellow who lost the money of his
ployer at the gambling tables which has been recev-
ing their hand.
NV experience has taught me that few gamblers
are on the square, the desire to win being so strong
and human nature so weak consequently, there is
ALWAYS some one willing to take advantage Of the
other players am free to say that at least once in
the life of every gambler, there is desire to cheat
and If he does not yield it is for the sufficient reason
that he does not know how. Persons who gamble
will bear me out when say every gambler has pass
ed a time when he would give anything in the world
to be able to tell the cards in his opponents hands
Gambling is a crime breeder and it inoculates the
community in which it is carried on just a conta-
gious disease communities from one person to ali
other. The shooting affray at West Baden some
time ago was the elimination of gambling row.
The officer who permits gambling to run and blind
Tigers to flourish in his bailiwck is farce and
accessory to crime. 1t is misnomer to refer to
gambling as game of chance. 1t should be refer
ed to as game of cinch the sucker has no chance
with the professional in the game and the boob will
lose and the cheater win. Gambling is stealing"
But we have men in all gambling communities who
occupy High and Holy places, mix and minge with
the gamblers and by their actions invite the eontnu-
~ S1n rfrrno