The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1914-10-22
ODD|f ON GAM
Bling AND DIVORCE


no idea that the gambling and divorce
issues would enter into it. Two
weeks before election these two is
sres are playing a great and possibly
decisive part in the question as to
whether Mr.. Boyle or myself will be
the next governor.
The state, in 1909, on the gambling
question, and in 1913, on the divorce
question, had taken positive action in
in accordance with what / believe
was, and believe still is, the senti-
ment of an overwhelming majority of
the people. My attitude on these
questions is matter of public record
The morning / left Reno to begin this
campaign, when the direct question
was put to me as to where / stood, if
reelected, in the event that the leg
islature passed bills restoring open
gambling and the six-month-divorce
law, | replied that I would veto them.
At the time of making that state
ment ] knew that the gambling and
divorce questions were the controll-
| ing issues in certain wards in Reno.
Since then have found the propon-
ents Of gambling and divorce organ
lied and taking an active part in the
election in many other places in the
state. Did these issues rise and gain
momentum without encouragement
from Mr.. Boyle and his supportersg
I put the question fairly. Mr.. Boyle
| in all likelihood, was approached as !
was for statement of his stand on
gambling and divorce. If so, what
answer did he makei
do not wish to misconstrue or mis-
interpret his position on these two
vital questions. But an unequivocal
public statement as to where Mr..
Boyle stands on gambling and divorce
| is imperatively demanded in the in
terests of good government and fair
play to the voters.
/ vii say, for his information and
for the information of the public, that
| il is currently reported n Reno and
elsewhere in the state that on these
same two questions being put to him,
he replied that he would neither veto
nor sign such bills. / further charge
that the gambling and divorce ques-
tions have been made leading issues
in this campaign and been given seri-
GUS impetus by virtue Of such current
reports of the stand of Mr.. Boyle, re-
gardless of the question of their
authenticity. For such answer, if
made, means that such bills would be-
come laws by limitation, without the
governor 3 signature, and a bare ma
iority of the two houses of the legis-
lature would be all that is necessary
to enact them. On the other hand, a
veto would mean that a thirds
vote of the two houses would be
necessary to pass them over the Ex-
ecutive veto. The position accredited
tG Mr.. Boyle amounts to effacing the
governor from gambling and divorce
legislation, while that taken by my
self makes him a powerful negative
and nine assemblymen, combined
over and above the necessary ma
jority to pass.
There are no personalities involved
in my views on gambling and divorce
It is the system that I oppose and not
the persons who favor it. give ev-
cry man the right to his honest opin-
ion and to support his individual in
lterests as / hold to mine.
believe that the good name of a
state. from the standpoint of good
morals, is something not only to be
lprized, but is material business as
set contributing to the states devel
opment and prosperity.
I further believe that the revenue
which the state and counties derived
! from gambling~ licenses, prior to Oc
tober /, 1910, did not begin to cover
the extra police and criminal cost
such gambling entailed.
II If no other reason existed, my ser
vice on the State Board of Pardon
and Parole alone would make me un
alterably opposed to an institution
which was responsible for so mucl
poignant tragedy-the ruin and wrecl
of the lives Of so many young mel
and the heart t-breaking Of wives
mothers and fathers.
Ill I cannot consistently believe tha
the wage-earners Of the state who
during the wide-open gambling perio
staked and lost their wages at tn
wheel, want that temptation agai
placed before them. They and thei
families are better off and happie
today. I cannot think that the clerk
in our stores and shops want it-wit
the memory of how many young me
/ went wrong under the lure of tn
green cloth. Nor can I think ths
the merchants, farmers, miners, raj
road employees and other industri;
classes Of people want wide-open gan
bling restored.
Likewise, at the session of the le,
islature in 1918, when the extensio
! Of the residence section Of the divort
D law was pending, delegations of cit
\ nens Of Reno appeared before the LEI
\ islature, with petitions containin
\ hundreds of signatures, urging Il
\ passage of the bill. On those petition
Y were the names of the most prominel
y men and women of Reno, inclndir
4 nearly the entire bar and profession
\ men of the city, besides scores enga
\ ed in all kinds of pursuits. If Il
\ divorce colony was good thing +
\ Reno, why this overwhelming NOV
~ mani "a oho1ish ~ whfle the axamp