The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-02-23
SOME REFORMATION 0M TREASURE STATE I'M


execute the mandates of the execu-
tive committee of the organization,
which, in secret council, decided
whether men affiliated with the ban
dts should die or be banished from
the territory.
Statesman of the territory thought
they had effected a reform when they
licensed gambling. 1t was contended
that the license would put the gamb
lers under official supervision and
enable the officers to refuse license
to those who did not conduct
square" games.
A few years later the reformers
decided that some of the games We're
operated on a percentage too much
in favor of the dealer. There was a
legislative investigations The states
men decided that roulette was one
of the games at which the player had
less chance to win than in the others.
The gambling law was amended. and
roulette, blackjack, craps, and sever
al other games of chance were put
on the retired list.
Sign of the Square Gambler.
The proprietor of the gambling
house was authorized to put a sign
outside the door of his establishment
1t bore the two words, Licensed
Gambling" This meant that he was
square gambler, sanctioned to oper-
ate by law. This law was in effect
until about twenty years ago.
In those days the gambling house
operated on the first floor. The
gambler was recognized institution.
He wore the best clothes obtainable
and held his head as high as any of
his fellows.
Then came the reform movement
which moved the game upstairs. 1t
was contended by the reformers that
the musical click of the chips was
too much of an allurement for the
man who had the gambling mania.
Finally gambling was abolished.
That is to say, it was made unlawful.
Officially there was no gambling
After that it all depended on the
county attorney and the sheriff.
Controlled Il County.
In one memorable election the
gamblers secured control of the Off
| cial machinery of one of the great
counties of the state. This was fol-
| lowed by the organization OF gamb-
ling trust, which operated several
houses. Attempt to open houses by
gamblers not members of the trust
met with prosecution. The trust
thrived for four years, and those back
of it made colossal fortune.
Then there was the racing era
Marcus Daily started racing on a big
scale in the state. 1t was pure sport
with him. He built great racing
plants at Butte and Anaconda. AT
ter he passed away the game fell into
the hands of professionals to a larg,
extent. Finally it was put in tn
black books of the state.
In Butte especially, racing helt
thousands in it's thrall. In the later
years even the women would throns
the betting ring, eager to place theil
money.
Prize fighting flourished, waned
and went down the dark road of
oblivion. Fortunes were made out
of the money slot machines before
the reformers got busy.
Time was in Montana when horse
or cattle stealing Was a capital Of
Tense, not on the statutes, but in the
invisible books of the unwritten law
There have been many reforms in
Montana since the days of Henry
Plummer, high sheriff of the terri
tory, and overload of the bandits
But all these reformations date back
to the golden days when the bar
tender of Virginia City could not
hold a job in the better class place