The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-01-16
WE GOT OUR FOOT IN 1T,

This paper made shocking mistake
last week in stating that gambling was
designated in the statute books as a
felony" The mere act, or process. of
gambling, which in many circles is
merely considered pleasant pastime,
IS aes1gn9tea as simple "misdemean-
OF. The men who sit around a table
hugging quintet of pasteboards close
to their vests and backing the value
of the hands with cash, goods or other
property, Willing away the happy
hours, while wasting their substance,
taking long chances on luck, not over
looking nerve in betting a pat hand,
are only guilty of misdemeanor in
the eyes of the law, and when caught
red handed in that sedeptary occppa-
tions are subject to a fine as provided
under the general head of penalties for
misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors,
etc. Plain, ordinary misdemeanors call
for casigation running from $1.00 to
500 in fines, or from one day to 80
days in the county Jail, depending
upon the size of the misdemeanor, and
the mental attitude of the committing
magistrate at the time of trial, or ex-
animation.
Therefore, and hence, according to
our information, it is within the prov
ence Of justice of the peace to COM
promise in cases of misdemeanor. If
we have not misunderstood our infor-
mant in a case where men are hailed
before the august presence of duly
constituted dispenser Of justice for a
misdemeanOr it is the power and the
privilege of that gentleman to tap the
accused gently upon the wrist and
remark "pshaw, you naughty, naughty
boys. You should not have overstepped
the bounds of propriety. Make restitu-
ton and promise to sin no more and
you can go hence, free and happy"
If that is the case then we are in
error in finding mild fault with the
discharge of couple Of individuals
who had absorbed a fat roll from an
acquaintance through the medium OF
poker, which is said to be not an I'M
common game among the citizens of
this republic, and we apologize for SO
doing. But, while on this subject, let
us look this matter of gambling
straight in the eve, and see If those
who engage in the diversion are not
skating on thin ice. Gambling and con-
Quoting gambling, according to the
statutes, are two different things, and
indulging in the latter is inviting a
sojourn behind the bars. The two Sec
tons treating this subject are pub
lished and those who read may put
their own Interpretation upon the
same:
Sec. 2469. Conducting gambling
Every person who shall open, conduct,
carry on or operate, whether as own
err, manager, agent, dealer, clerk, or
employee, and whether for hire or
not, any gambling game or game of
chance, played with cards, dice or any
other device, or any scheme or device
whereby any money or property or
any uncertain or contingent event,
shall be a common gambler, and shall
be punished by Imprisonment in the
state penitentiary for not more than
five years.
. Sec. 2470. Gambling-Every per-
son who shall bet, wager or hazard
any money or property, or any repre-
sentative of either, upon any game,
scheme or device, opened, conducted,
carried on or operated in violation Of
the last section shall be guilty of
misdemeanor."
There is the law, take it or leave 1t
just as you please. 1t is one Of those
sumptuary laws that has been found
necessary to enact to protect meu
from their own weakness, or folly. A
social game of cards for small stakes
could injure no one, but It is the abuse
Of the sport by those who cannot at
ford it that has made the restriction
necessary, like the consumption Of
liquors. If men had alwaysc been mod
crate in drinking there never would
have been fertile field for the pro-
hibitionist to get in his work. II
gambling had been confined to small
stakes that vice would have been over
looked. But the inordinate weakness