Evening times-Republican., 1914-01-06
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAKES
$tANp in IOWA CITY ANTI
oAMeLiNo CRUSADE.
HAY BRING SUITS TO DUST
I CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS
University City Shown 70 Have Per.
mittsd Gaming Houses to Operate
( Observation-Disclosures Of Local
Newspaper Causes States Attorney
to Become Actively Interested.

DeS Moines. Jan. 6.-Attorney General
Cosson is making an investigation of
conditions in Iowa City which may re-
suit in custer proceedings being
brought against city and county Off
cials there for failure to enforce the
laws against gambling. For nearly two
weeks, ii became known yesterday, the
attorney general has been receiving in
formation concerning gambling conoi-
tions in Iowa City and complaints
against city and county officers for
their alleged disregard of duty.
Mr.. Cosson himself declined to dis
cuss the Iowa City situation. He ad-
rnitted it had been called TO his atten-
iion but was not able TO announce what
action he would take. Without further
knowledge Of the actual facts, he would
not say whether he would prosecute the
officials under the Cosson removal law.
cosson Takes Hand.
That the attorney general is taking
an active interest in the crusade which
has been started against gambling in
Iowa City was made known thru other
channels. One of his men viii visit
Iowa City shortly, il is understood, TO
study the situation at close hand and
20 hear the side of officials as we'll as
that Of the opposition 10 them.
University authorities are prominent
in the campaign that has been launched
against ganb bling that is said to have
been going on openly. Within the last
two weeks they have appealed to city
and county officials demanding that
the gambling houses be closed as
means Of protecting students against
the bad influence Of the vice as we'll as
for the sake OF law enforcement The
campaign began openly three weeks
ago when the Johnso County 1ndepen-
dent. weekly newspaper published
in Iowa City, printed an expose Of
gambling operations.
Describes Operations Of Houses.
The Independent described vivid!y
the manner Of operation Of the gam
bling houses. naming their location and
their operators. II int!mateG that the
places were being visited by university
students as well Rs youths OF the town
and surrounding country. It testified
&c the operators 81 c.e e tAe places
having made Q visitor drunk. robbed
him, and then put him out on the street
for the police to get.
Relatives Of persons who had lost
money in the gambling places appealed
to the officers. but nothing was done.
the Independent charged Appeals
have been made to Mayor Koontz to
close these VGsces."r the Independent
charged. "but they still run openly.
The paper called upon President Bow
man Of the university to get necessary
evidence and see to the closing Of the
places and suggested that the Cosson
law be invoked against the delinquent
officials.
Papers Attack Starts Campaign.
A6ter the Independents attack the
campaign against gambling became
open in Iowa City. University officials
have since been investigating condi-
tons and are understood TO have filed
informettons against some Of the Of
tenders. Iowa City newspapers as a
rule mininized the situation on the re-
quest Of university officers who feared
It would be unnecessarily exaggerated
over the state and the university in
jured thereby.
By number Of the Leaders IN the
anti-gambnng campaign. Attorney
General Cosson has been kept in touch
with it's progress. The matter was f1rst
called to his attention about two weeks
ago. He has since been too busy with
other pressing matters to make thor
ough investigation. but there are signs
that he Is planning action OF this kind
for this week.