The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-12
state Department Of Justice, In cireu-
liar, Declares That All
RaffIes Arc
Gambling.
AGAINST THE IOWA LAW
All Forms Of Gaming and Gambling
Discussed in Document Re-
ceived Here by tho
Authorities.

In circular letter to the city hall
and the police department from the
state department of Justice, the mat
ter of raffles, slot machines, lottery
schemes and similar forms Of gamb-
ling which are prohibited both by
federal and state laws, are taken up
and explained. II seems that there
has been considerable complaint made
to the state department from various
cities in the state about these gamb-
ling schemes and George Cosson,
while states attorney, prepared the
following letter, which has been sent
to officials all over the state. A rigor-
Gus enforcement of the laws on the
subject is desired. The circular in
part follows:
To the county attorneys. mayors
and police officers of Iowa:
During the past month SO many
complaints have been made to the
department Of Justice and so many re-
quests from local officers have been
received for opinions concerning
gambling, rafting and lottery
schemes, that l feel it incumbent up
on me to direct general letter to
the law-enforcing officials of the state
to the end that they may be advised
and federal government, and the de-
cisions covering these questions.
Complaint is made by merchants
that they cannot continue to do
legitimate business when their COM
petitor is permitted to sell an infer
Tor article stimulated by the giving OF
rewards or prizes upon lot or chance
which Is clearly gambling and lot
terry scheme.
All forms of gaming, gambling.
raffles, slot machines, punch boards
and lottery schemes, of every descrip-
ton are prohibited by the constitu-
ton and the laws of this state, and
likewise are prohibited By the laws
of the federal government.
1t is we'll recognized tn" all games
OF luck or chance whereby the person
parts with his money in the hope
or with the expectation of receiving
something Of value in return there
for are gambling and lottery schemes.
1t is also true that all schemes or
transactions for which a consideration
is paid and in which the person pay
ing the consideration receives some
thing each time, but the amount re-
ceived depends upon luck or chance,
are likewise gambling and lottery
schemes and prohibited by the laws
Of both the state and federal govern
ment, and this includes the sale Of
merchandise of any kind or character
at the customary price If in conneo-
ton Herewith by reason OF some
luck, lot or chance, the person pur-
chasing the goods has an opportunity
of receiving some prize or reward.
This precise question has been pass
ed upon by the supreme court Of the
United States, when it was held that
the sale of official bonds of the Aus
TRAN government was an offense
against the United States laws il ac-
companied Herewith was a drawing
contest whereby the purchaser Of the
bonds might receive prize or re-
ward OF value. -
The supreme court of the United
States reviews the decisions of the
several states, including the decisions
of England, and finds that the courts
invariably hold that such schemes
are lottery and gambling schemes
and thereby prohibited; and the fact
that the purchaser of the bonds will
receive the return Of his mony with
interest does not make the transac-
ton any the less an offense against
the federal statutes.
The giving of prizes by lot or
chance in connection with the sub
scription for a newspaper was like
wise held to be lottery scheme by
the federal court
The advertising in any form, either
by newspaper or otherwise, or the
use of the mails in any form for the
purpose of promoting or carrying on
any lottery scheme, is prohibited by