The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-03-01
THE FIRST BIG REFORM
IN STATE Of MONTANA
MINERS REvolTED AGAINST
THE LONG FINGER NAILS
OF BAR TENDERS.

!
sands in his life glass flow away, and
the woman of the most ancient pro-
fession takes her departure to places
where she will be more kindly receiv-
ed, and with the handle of the gun of
the reformer becoming ragged with
the notches of his numerous triumphs,
it Is interesting to recall the first re-
form that was effected in what is now
placer miners Of Alder gulch against
| the Nong finger nails of the bartenders
who served them. 1T succeeded and in
succeeding saved the hardy miners
many thousands of dollars.
1t occurred in Virginia City, in the
days when placer mining and banditry
were the two principal industries of
the territory Placer gold was the
circulating medium When a convivial
miner bought "A round of drinks in IA
saloon he put his poke" of gold dust
on the bar. The bartender would take
a pinch Of dust from the poke, throw
! it into the gold scales, and add to it
4 or take from it as the exigencies of
7 the purchase demanded.
The Frugal Bartender.
The frugal bartenders of those
days grew long finger nails. Their
brokerage was the dust that remained
under the nail after the deal had
been consummated. In places where
thriving business was driven a
dextrous bartender could make as
much as $50 in single day.
This was all right as long as gold
dust was plentiful, and while the ex-
element was high. Pretty soon it
became apparent that the bartenders
had more money than anyone else in
camp. investigators. after careful
study, also determined that the bar
tenders who had the longest finger
nails wore the best clothes and SEEM
ed to be possessed of more money
than their fellow mixologists.
Word went forth among the miners
that the long finger nail was taboo.
The miners decided to boycott those
saloons where the long finger nail was
In evidence The boycott became so
effective that owners of saloons would
employ no bartenders who did not
have their nails paired down to the
quick
That was the first reform effected in
the state
Cleaned Up the Bandits.
The next great reform was the
cleaning up of the bandits, which is a
long story. Suffice to say that more
than so offenders, including Henry
Plumer, leader of the bandits. were
hanged within two months after the
Vigilantes effected their wonderful or
ganization.
X. Beider was one of the leaders i'm
this great reformation. He was the
head of the Vigilantes and command
ed an army of 1900 miners sworn to
rid the territory of brigandage, They
were bound by oath to execute the
of the executive committee
of the organization, which, in secret
council decided whether men affiliat
ed with the bandits should die or be !
banished from the. territory.
Statesmen of the territory thought |
they had effected reform when they
licensed gambling. IT was contended
hat the license would put the gam
blers under official supervision and +
enable the officers to refuse licenses
10 those who did not conduct square
A few years ter the reformers de-
'ided that some of the games were
operated on a percentage too much in
avor Of the dealer There was leg
slative investigation. The statesmen
ecided that roulette was one of theTs
ames at which the player had less
nance to win than in the others. The |
law was amended, and rou-
cite, blackjack, craps and several 9TH u
+ games of chance were put on the
atired list 4
Sign Of the Square Gambler.
The proprietor of a gambling house
as authorized to put a sign outside Il
lie door of his establishment. 1t bore u
le two words. Licensed Gambling"
his meant that he was a square
amber, sanctioned to operate by law.
his law was in effect until about 22 II
ears ago.
In those days the gambling house "
,erated on the first floor. The gam
er was recognized institution He Ia
ore the best clothes obtainabe and W
I'D his head as high as any of his
llows. M
Then came the reform movement
hich moved the games upstairs. 1t IA
as contended by the reformers that
G musical click Of the chips was too rs
uch Of an allurement for the man
no had the gambling mania Tn
Finally gambling was abolished,
nat Is to say, II was made unlawful.
ficially there was no gambling. At In
r that 1t all depended on the county
torney and the sheriff.
Controlled a County. ~
In one memorable election the gam ri
RS secured control of the official