Imperial Valley press., 1914-06-02
VALLEY PRESS CENTRIC CALIFORNIA
GEN. FUNSTON PUTS
LID ON GAMBLING
(BY WILLIAM G. sHEPHERD)


Vera Cruz, Mexico, June 2.--It was
a husky little tussel that Gen. Fun
ston had with the gamblers of Vera
Cruz. In the first place, the gamblers
are crafty Spaniards, who found it
an easy matter to mislead the minor
military authorities. Before Funston
was aware of it, two Of his subordi-
mates Col. Plummer, the provost gem
eral, and Capt. Bamford, the chief Oh
police, had given permission to the
gamblers to resume their business.
It was the newspaper correspond
ents from Mexico City, who were ia
miliar with Mexican customs, that
first made General Funston aware of
the mistake which Plummer and Bam-
ford had made.
Plummer and Bamford had been in
structed not to interfere more than
necessary with the mixed customs Of
Mexico, in their government of Vera
Cruz and so, when they were assured
by The Spanish gamblers that open
gambling was fixed custom in Mex
leo they Immediately gave the hold
ers of the gambling concession per-
mission to open their places.
The correspondents from the Mex
lean capital, however knew otherwise.
They were aware that Huerta, even
in his desperate need of money, had
held off until last January before he
would agree to sell gambling conces-
sions, saying, Gambling is the worst
thing that | can inflict on Mexico"
For many years open gambling and
the sale of gambling concessions had
been prohibited in Mexico and the
correspondents were aware that it was
with great reluctance that The sorely
pressed Huerta finally turned to the
sale of gambling concessions for funds.
AS soon as the correspondents saw
the gambling houses running full tilt
under the American military rule,
they took the matter up with Pro-
vost General Plummer.
EYES," answered Plummer "I have
permitted the man who holds the
gambling concession here to open up
his houses again. He helped the mar
ines greatly with information when
they first landed here and if we let
him run he will see that gambling is
confined only to his own places. In
that way we can regulate gambling"
One correspondent, however, wen1
to Captain Bamford, the military chief
of police and said to him:
"How much are the gamblers pay
ing for running their places in Vera
Cruz?' ,A.a.4.44.=as44.
"Well," he answered, eve found
that they were paying the city govern
ment four thousand pesos month
and The state government eight thou
sand pesos a month, the latter for
military purposes. We're going to lei
the city government take its share
and then, We'll have the eight thou
sand pesos month to spend for mill
tary purposes in Vera Cruz"
"But this is payday night in the
fleet" suggested the correspondent
"and the soldiers are losing their
money at roulette and montebank and
craps"
"Better than spending it for BOOZE
said the captain. ga soldier without
money is the best soldier and the soon
er they rid themselves of their money
the better" The next move of the
correspondent "uplifters" was to go
to General Funston.
"What about the provost general
taking money for military purposes
from the gamblers ?" asked a CORES
pondent.
"What do you mean?" asked Fun
ston.
The correspondent explained.
"Blankety, blank, blank, blank
shouted Funston, 81 didn't know that
was going on. I'll stop it right away"
| No one knows, for publication, what
Funston told the misled Colonel Plum
mer and the erring military chief Of
police, but gambling stopped immed
lately.
At that, Col. Plummer now holds
the record of having opened the gamb
ling houses before he opened the pub
lie schools.