Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-01-27
DRINKING AND GAMBLING

From time immemorial there has
been drinking, carousing, gambling
and other violations of the law
throughout this country. When things
get so bad the people of community
cannot put up with them there is an
Indignation meeting. Things have
gone from bad TO worse until now we
have countrywide prohibition. OF
course this may keep saloons closed
but will it help matters in other ways
AS it is, if a man has several thousand
dollars worth of liquor in his cellar,
he can keep right on filling up the
boozers in community. Then the
temperance people themselves, as it
appears are attempting to have the
government purchase the liquor in
bond and resell it and further, have
liquor on tap at drug stores, given out
Under physicians prescriptions. There
is only one way to have prohibition
and that is to absolutely stop the use
of liquor. The trouble is that all
temperance workers are not abstain
ers, they don't want the other fellow
to have any, but "wee drop" on tap
for themselves. Many years ago a
violent temperance worker came to
WausaG and spent winter in the
work. He had an ailment Ga thirst
for good old Rock and Rye" and a
physicians prescription gave him all
he wanted, but it was necessary ac-
cording to the prescription to put in a
lcertain amount of quinine. The tenn
perance worker, bought and put in
his own quinine. There were enough
bottles in his back yard, found in the
spring to operate drug store. Too
many temperance workers have this
failing.
The same thing may be. said of
gambling. Gambling is carried on ev-
erywhere in the face of the law so
long as there is no effort being made
to enforce the law. AT times in Wau-
sau as we'll as in other cities 1t be-
comes a menace and is the ruination
of many a yonng man. Any detective
of mediocre ability can spot every
gambling place in the city within
twenty-four hours, but nothing is done
by authorities until someone COM
plains. which is all wrong. 1t is
against the law to allow gambling and
it should not be permitted. If one
crowd is permitted to gamble. others
feel they should have the privilege.
Over at Amigo a raid was made
upon rooms in which gambling it was
said was being permitted in the base
ment of the Hotel. But to show how
gamblers try to evade the law and
protect their dens the following is
taken from the Antigo Journal with
reference to these gambling rooms:
Entrance to the alleged gambline
room was made through the second
side door on the south side. This was
securely locked but was unlocked
from the inside when the officers
seemed determined to break tin if it
was not opened. Two more doors, Sc
cured with locks and straps had to be
opened before the room was entered.
Three other doors giving access to
this room from other directions were
similarly fastened, and there was dis
covered behind the bar an electric
push button by which the card play
ers could be warned of the presence
of police. The players had scattered
when the police entered. One of them
was found lying on a couch in an ad-
joining room, feigning deep sleep, and
another was crouched under table"
We understand that some detective
work is soon to be done In Wansau, A
word to the wise is sufficient.