The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-07-20
MORE PROTESTS
LODGED AGAINST
CHE-FA BANKERS
Police Do Not Interfere With Big
Games, Only Arresting
Small Fry
MERCHANTS AND OTHERS
ASK MAYOR FOR RELIEF
Also Request Supervisors To
Help Put Stop To Present
SCandalous Conditions

The let up in activity in rounding up
the chefa players and bankers has
brought forth another storm Of pro-
test from indignant Chinese merchants
and others, and Mayor Lane and the
supervisors are receiving letters beg
ging them to do all In their power to
put stop to the scandalOus conditions
existing.
SO far none Of the big banHs have
been iuterfered with by the police, the
arrests made by the local sleuths bav.
ing been, almost without exception, the
small fry who follow in the tracks or
the big games, and who operate on n
fifty dollar basis where the others
maintain $500 and $500 banks.
Heavy Play Al Market
During the last few days the Ash
market bank has enjoyed heavy play.
This bank Is conducted in a grocery
store adjoining the fishmarket and the
drawings are made almost publicly.
The cases in which fines have been
imposed on charges Of maintaining n
bank have all been appealed and, judg-
ing from past experience, will he nol'e
pressed when they come up for trial
in the circuit court.
A letter received by Mayor Lane last
week, contains the following:
Since you called the attention of
the police department to the existence
of che-fa games, a short time ago, the
detectives have arrested few insIg-
nifcant agents and the detectives are
Dragging about what they have done
and the big fines Judge Monsarrat has
imposed. The cases were all appealed.
however, and later, on will be nolled
nrossed in the circuit court.
Bankers Apparently Immune
"The police are unwilling to arrest
the che-fa bankers because they wouIh
not then receive large income from
the eyil-doers. The detectives say
that the Chinese are tricky, but il
they are in earnest they will find no
difficulty at all in arresting the bank
ers. They can catch such bankers at
the time when they collect the money
from the agents. !
at Is well known that one Of the
largest ehe-fa games is that operated
by Chu Yee at his house in Aala lane,
which big crowd Of all nationalities
patronize."
A letter dated July IL, addressed to
prominent Honolulan, asking him 20
nae his influence to help rid the city or
che-fa gambling, contains the follow
ing: -
"Che-fa gambling is widely spread
throughout Honolulu. There are said
to be fifteen banks holding drawings
twice a day. This kind of gambling,
although IL does not at once result in
a great loss, is very insidious, and by
degrees ones money keeps going from
one 8 pockets.
Why Game Is Popular "
"The reason why this game is be-
coming so popular is that if a person
should purchase fve.cenr ticket and
get the right number he win receive a
dollar and a half. Think what posi-
hility of profit an investment of a dol
lar holds out.
"The police, I understand, say that
they cannot get hold of the bankers
because they are so clever in running
their business. Ism t that what they
are trained forf Why don't they come
out with the truth and say Il receive
so much a week and do not wish to in
terrupt themf That would be a better
and more truthful way of explaining
their lack of activity.
"NOt the least evil about the game
is its influence on the young, as wei
as of on men and women. Young per
sons have a chance to play che.fa, AM
the result is that when they grow "
} they are confirmed gamblers. When I
man CANDLES once he always CANDLES
! and when a man CRAFTS once, no mat
ter whether in an Office or on a police
force, he always CRAFTS. It's in the1
blood.
} Poor Folk Are Victims
"The other day, when l was on thu
| street, saw Spanish woman with
L. child in her arms. She was going u
buy something to eat and was on tn
point Of entering a store to, secure 1t
Suddenly a che-fa agent approached
and instead of buying something 70
herself and child, she gave her none!
, to the agent.
"There are many such cases, partic
uIarly among the lower classes, and /
Is they who suffer most, Every even
ing Hawaiians come to my house an
beg for food, and before, when chef
was not played as 1t is now, neve
had anyone come to my house to be
for something to eat"
And in the meantime those entruste
with the work of supervising gamblin
and other crimes, add to their alread
extensive property holdings and DUN
money into their safe deposit boxes b
II IAL 1,,I