Evening journal., 1914-05-16
Ell PASO awaiting
SPARK TO IGNITE
Americans and Mexicans'
Outbreak There So
Far Averted
RELATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE STRAINED
By The United Press


Ell PASO, Tex. May 16.--All things
considered it is a rather remarkable
thing that there have not been serious
outbreaks between Mexicans and
Americans here and in Juarez, which
is just across a short bridge over the
Rio Grande Ell Paso's population of
10000 is largely Mexicans, and there
are a great many Americans in Jua-
rez. At various times, strained rela-
tions between the Constitutionalists
or the Federals and the American adj
ministration have seemed near the
breaking point. and FL Pasoans have
looked for trouble, that has never
come.
tt costs only five cents on the troll
ley line to cross the national bound
ary into Juarez. In that Mexican
city, now controlled by Constitution
alists, are gathered hundreds of gam
blers from North America, racing
men, promoters of cock fights and
bull fights, and the usual hangers-on
of those amusements.
The racetrack is only a short dis
tance from Juarez. It can be reach
ed in less than an hour from almost
any point in El Paso. Instead of
being limited to a period of days, the
race meetings sometimes are stretch
ed over a period of months. 1t is
pointed out here that the easy money
| of the race track affords considerable
augmentation to the funds of the
Constitutionalists- to the Federals,
for that matter If the Federals hap
pen to be in power at Juarez.
But the race track is not the only
attraction for gamblers and other
lovers of sport" which Juarez holds
out There are the cock fights, the
roulette wheels, the faro banks, nc
limit but the ceiling" poker games
and last and most important of all
Keno"
Keno has all the advantages of q
lottery, in that a large number Of
persons can play at the same time
and get instant action. If the sports"
are interested, settlements take place
every few minutes. With the odds
large because of SO many players the
winner draws down a considerable
pot for the amount invested. In play
ing his favoritee of the Juarez. ev-
cry player is given for small fee
usually ten cents, card which bears
from fifty to one hundred numbers
With one hundred persons taking
part, this would make pot of $40
from which would be deducted the
banks commission.
A house" employe draws duplicate
numbers from a box slowly, calling
them out to the waiting men. who
have their cards before them. with
little bits OF gun wadding ready to
be struck upon the numbers upon
their cards, as these are announced
by the caller. The first man to com
plete a row of three numbers covered
with gun wadding shouts Keno" and
he gets the pot.
AS in all gambling games, the pos.
sibilities for an argument resulting
in a general melee are tremendous
especially when the character of this
hot-blooded Mexicans is taken into
consideration. The trouble about sucl
fight is that the Mexicans want tC
get their knives into action, or in.
dulge in a little shooting, in which
latter phase the cowboy element from
Texas is only too ready to accommo
! date them.
Then there is no police force wor
E thy of the name in Juarez, and in ths
event Of a real riot, lasting over q
period of days, the only appeal which
could be made would be to Villa
And many of the Mexicans themselves
would rather their city be pulled
down about their ears than appeal I,
him, knowing full well what woulC
probably follow should the soldiers
be turned loose following the "sav
ing" of the city They figure tha
while the city might be saved, i
would be saved for the Constitution
alist soldiers. and not for the inhab
itants.
With all the gambling, cock-fight
ing and horse-racing, that ones hear
could wish, If ones heart desires thi
sort of thing, it is a little wonder tina
a tremendous number of men fond o
that sort Of thing, the very characte
of men, usually, who are most prom
to trouble of a more serious char
acter, has been drawn 10 the littl
Mexican city.