The Sentinel=record., 1912-03-17
COMMUNICATION FROM A
PROFESSIONAL MAN


ficers whose competency is now be.
fore the people of this district. there
is one argument which, in my opin
ion, could most effectively be ad,
yanced, which you have. so far as !
am advised, overlooked. The supper.
of Witt. who appears to be the chief
contender. comes from but one source
and that the gambling and open town
element. The present overflow of Wis.
itors, and the high class citizenship
OF the country constituting same has
absolutely and irreyocably wiped out
every possible vestige of argument
that the club rooms are necessity
for the entertainment of guests. This
feature OF the argument in support
OF Witt is answered by the overflow
in the hostelry OF the city, of all
grades and kinds. The small hotel
man, for instance, what possible adj
vantage can be derived from gam.
bling for him? Can he attribute
single dollar during the year to his
patronage from a man who came here
to gamble? On the other hand. how
many of his guests are compelled to
leave the city prematurely as a d.
rect result of gambling? This ques-
ton should be brought directly to
their attention, 1t means too much
to them to be slightingly orr. even
casually passed over at this time,
and | have found that they are be-
ginning to fast realize the Importance
OF this question to them. Ii is true
that large number of selfish poll
tieians work almost exclusively
among these gentlemen, but | find
that they are men of Keen inreli-
gence, and when their attention is
drawn to an issue politically as it
should be drawn in this case, that
they are the first to realize the vaiue
thereof.
Another question which should be
brought to the earnest consideration
of the voters, is this, for what reason
do the open town people expect an
officer to permit gambling? Is I'll
from an enlargement of the heart, or
is it from a corrupt heart? You can
answer the question 20 your own sat
isfaction. If you should Judge after
consideration of the facts sur
rounding the running of open gam
bling houses that it is accomplished
through an abandoned and wicked
heart, then | want to ask you this
question further, If a public officer
can be approached to permit gam
bling, in open violation of the law,
and thus places his integrity and hon.
or in the hands of these people, would
it be even an improbable conjecture
him for the purpose of turning loose
on the community someone who has
outraged the purity and honor of your
home, murdered you, or burglarized
and robbed your home? If you could
approach a man for one corrupt pur-
pose, would you fear refusal to ap-
proach him on any other subject
when he is in your power? Can you
expect the world to patronize a re-
sort where such a condition exists,
you are bound to know that a com
munity which permits open and noto-
rious gambling advertises and holds
itself out to the world as being gov
erned by corrupt officers? Can you
expect the same element of patron
age to come to the Springs that we
have with US now, if the safeguard
which is now thrown around them is
torn away? Would you wish to bring
your wife and children from a clean.
law-abiding community to such a
place, and have your sons and your
daughters exposed to such an influ-
ence as permeates the hotels and
streets of Hot Springs during such
a period? Answer these things, and
then vote, not as some man who has
an AK to grind, or commission to ex-
toll from those exercising special
privileges. but vote as a man, and as
your heart and conscience directs
you. There is not a citizen in Hot
Springs, ] care not what his work
may be. who does not expect some
special favor from the hands of a
corrupt administration who can not
say that the condition amongst us is
better than ever before Friction.
there is none, but that which is ere,
ated by the gambler Stop, consider,
how many dollars you have saved and
placed to your credit which you can
directly or indirectly attribute to the
open town policies.
How many dollars do you suppose
have been taken from YOU by this
same source.
How many dollars are contributed
to the advertising campaign OF the