Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-05
DRY ZONE ON MEXICAN BORDER
ADVOCATED TO STOP CRIME
Both Mexican and u. S. Authorities Favor
60-Mile Area Free From Liquor
Vice Now Rampant.
BY HERBERT COREY.

BI HERBERT COREY.
NEW YORK. August 5.-To the
man up the tree 1t looks as though
that dry spot Is spreading.
The Mexican authorities. according
to recent telegram from the City of
Mexico, have determined to stamp
out the wholesale exploitat ton of vice
along the American border. where the
worst elements of both nations have
foregathered during the past five
years.
There Is more coming. The Ameri-
can authorities also, having taken
into consideration the fact that drink
ing. horse racing, cock-fighting, faro
bank, craps. roulette, the old army
game and other forms of improper
and noisy amusement are to be found
by crossing an imaginary line. are
SAID to have under consideration the
making of a request to Mexico to es-
tablish sixty-mile dry zone on the
Mexican side.
Under the CarranZa regime such a
request would have brought the note
writing abilities of Luis Cabrera, the
secretary of state, into their fullest
mower. Cabrera can take an ordinary
case of arson and find a moral issue
IN every pocket. But nothing else
would have been done. Whereas the
de la Huerta -Obregon administration
is very apt to listen pleasantly to the
Sgestion, no member of it pre-
tends to be prudish, but each under
STANDS that Mexico must clean house
before obtaining a really favorable
nearing on this side of the line. And
housecleaning is nowhere more poign-
antly needed than along the border
Gambling and Liquor Plentiful.
In Juarez, for example, which is
just across the bridge from Ell Paso,
thirsty tourist may obtain a stop
over ticket and get enough liquor
between trains to keep his head on
the pillow for week. And there
are gambling establishments that re-
mind one of the bad old days before
nickel became sacred and there
were laws passed against taking
chances with it, In one long build
ing nity men are constantly engaged
as dealers and 1ookouts. The chink
OF silver money fills the air. Women
as well as men are permitted to play.
In this. as in the other gambling
| houses, Checks cashed" is sign
| that stareS one in the face every
where. The house is always willing
| TO take chance on the honor of a
player. One little kid from the east
ran his bank account to a whisper
at this big shop during stay of
some weeks. and finally managed to
get $500 or $500 of it back. Then
the boss showed that even the pro-
Iess1onal gambler runs true to Bret
Harte's form now and then. He
tired to edge the boy over the Rio
Grande and on his way toward home.
Don't try to get even, kid" said
he. 1T can't be done. That isn't
part of the game. Take what
money you have left and beat it for
nome and stay there"
OF course, the kid did not. But
the proprietor told the truth about
his percentages. He was reputed to
have paid 100000 cash for license to
run year a change in admins
tration came before he had finished
ms eighth month and closed him up.
But he was already $4,000 to the
good. There are other things than
gambling houses in Juarez. If you
pine Tor fighting there is al
most always pit in operation. and
every now and then a near-buIlfight
is given, and sometimes the sport OF
kings is offered on a track which is
SAID to be the very fastest in the
world.
Reminders Of Frontier Days.
Ihere are restaurants. too, which
recall the Haymarket when New
kept up exclusively for and by Wis
ltors from the west. The lights and
! laughter spill over on the pavement.
Affable ladies lean over your shoulder
as you discuss your ham and eggs and
MARBLE beerishly in your ear Other
1.-THE creatures prance up and down
the aisles between the tables and sing
vigorously, and one of the most mus
cular orchestraS in the world proves
that new horrors can be added to
| jazz. And all this hokum isn't con-
| fined to Juarez. Tia Juana is just as
frivolous, or more SO, and you can.
! if you will, shake light heel at
! Nuevo Laredo, and elsewhere on the
| line.
| All of this has been blinked at by
the United States. 1t was encouraged
! by the former Mexican administers
! ton. because of the revenue il
! brought to the officials who had the
graft to sell. The present admins
| tration is said to be determined to
put an END to it. No one who knows
| President de la Huerta and Cen
Obregon doubts that if it is possible
! it will be ended. for. apart from the
question of morals involved, there is
| constant danger that international
relations may be jeopardized by hap
penings in the dance halls or gam
! bling houses.
| The ending of it may be somewhat
| difficult, for the present concession
aires have paid fat sums for their
| privileges, and are apt to be backed