El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-10-18

IVA When stateWids prohibition was
put into effect IN the state Of Texas
in 1918. thousands OF saloons closed
their doors and many drunkards
planned 20 go to sea to become used
to water" and when at the same
time the United States government
put into effect regulations to control
vice conditions. Kidding the south
west Of gamblers and prostitutes as
FAR as was possible especially In
in those places where American sol
dlers at the time were being mool-
lied and trained in military camps.
the border towns OF Mexico al once
saw the opportunity that was pre-
scented to reap a harvest OF wealth
by the establishment CT saloons, the
opening OF gambling dsns and the
Offering OF protection to those un-
fortunate women who might care to
cross the boundary line TO continue
the pursuits they had followed IN
Texas.
Many Monte Carlos.
When the prohibition measures Of
Texas were tested in the courts Of
the state and declared 70 be consti-
ruUouas the Mexican towns OF
Juarez. Piedras Negras. Nuevo La
redo and Matamoras. each We'd with
the other in providing places where
American men and women. OF rather
those men who were addicted &c
drinking and gambling and women
who pursued immoral pursuits.
would find a haven Of safety.
The result was that IN Nuevo la
redo and 1fatamoras hundreds Of sa-
looms we're opened gambling deus
where roulette. monte. poker and
other games. wheels OF fortune and
craps were opened, while the places
mentioned we're soon full OF Mexican
and American prostitutes Nuevo Ia.
redo and 1Iatamoras had become not
only second Monte Carlo for gam
bling, but soon there were many
places where hundreds OF Mexican
women and American drunkards held
forth in their orgies.
Recently a correspondent, while e
route 70 Monterey. stopped over SunA
Gay in Laredo and decided to make
an investigation Of conditions in
Nuevo Laredo Going over 70 the
Mexican city opposite Laredo Il was
found that several score Of saloons
were filled with men, OF whom 80
per cent were Americans. and most
OF these had already had a number
OF rounds OF drinks and we're still
lndulging- Calling for a bottle Of
beer OF an american brand. we were
handed a bottle with a Budweiser
label on Il, but the contents was
beer made in Monterey, and the
price per pint bottle was IS cents
American money. Whisky sells all
the way from % cents to so cents
drink
Sunday the Big Day.
The saloonkeeper in this particu-
lar bar stated that the Sunday be-
fore he had taken in over $500 from
the sale Of beer and whisky alone.
and that most OF the patrons were
a 3 "a nHh enf fHr g Haar
town had done an equally big bust
ness. so Il IS evident that several
thousand American dollars are spent
each sunday in the Mexican border
town Of Nuevo Laredo alone.
Adjoining most Of the saloons IN
Nuevo Laredo and Matamoras cns
rirds rooms where there are crap
tables monte tables, poker tables
and roulettei wheels. and these are
always literally patronized. The
fascinating game Of roulette invar-
.ably gets its fun quota OF victims,
for the boosters" who are always
hanging about. soon inveigle one into
The game II he does not voluntarily
Try his luck A stranger at the rou-
cite table generally wins the first
lime he puts his money on a number, I
: column. or a color Then he Is
invited to have a bottle Of beer or a
rink OF whisky. and later encour- 4
aEA 20 II 81 MS luck A=14L-s anu SO 4
{ keeps on this way in the gaming .
DOM. A few weeks ago a wealthy (
III opeEator from Tampico. while I'M 4
Ter the influence Of liquor in a
suevo Laredo gambling hail "bucked'
crap game and lost $4,000. But I
his is only one instance OF where
americans have lost heavily in I
games on the Mexican side OF the
Rio Grande.
Officially Protected.
Mexican officials afford protection I
o the saloons and gambling dens Of I
heir cities and, in fact, encourage
hem. It is said that when the mayor /.
Z Nuevo Laredo opposed gambling 4
n saloons Of Nuevo Laredo about Z
wo months ago, contrary to the ap-
roval Of governor Ozuna. Of the
tate Of Tamaulipas, the mayor was I
from office and was sue I
eeded by mayor pro TEN. who per
nitted gambling.
saloons and gambling dens in Mex n
co pay a heavy license tax and at I
his time Matamoras and Nuevo La u
edo and other Mexican border towns f
which are reaping big money off 4
Americans, both at the bar and the I
gambling tables, gives magnificent 4
ums for their privileges.
Very few Americans attempt 20 n
"a bottle back with them. Z.
or they realize that the American n
ustoms guards are always on the II
ookout and esarch all persons who II
ross from the Mexican to the Ameri- II
an side OF the Rio Grande-except 4
hose who smuEEla themselves across u