Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-20
GERMANY III GRIP
Of GAMBLING FEVER
BY MAMMALIAN HARDEN,
Germany's Foremost Pub1icist.
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal. J
(COnYright. 1921

NCopyrlSnl, 19Z1.)
Germany is in the grip of a gambling
fever. The people are thinking to solve
some Of the problems of reconstruction by
stalking pittance plethora on the turn
of a wheel. Too often this seeming in
toxication of enjoyment is but a symbol of
despair The people can not live within
their incomes-and the gambling devices
reap a grim harvest)
BERLIN, Sept. 17.-All Germany
today is gambling mad. The prices
of the necessities of life are so high
and the tax burden SO painful that
not ten persons in hundred thou
sand can live within their incomes.
Therefore, many who never dream
ed Of gambling today stretch their
hopeful hands toward fortunes
wheel. The new gamblers are the
new poor" and when from a dis
lance looks like the intoXicat!on Of
enjoyment too often is the fling of
despair.
In the cinema Germany's plighr
Bankruptcy" or ''The Great Gamble"
1t all began with roulette wheels
carried through the streets on wheel
harrows, or placed in dark and care
fully locked back rooms. 1t has
tinseI. 1t has extended to the
bourse, where human beings are
lacked like sardines daily, buying
stocks they never heard Of before and
selling at the first show of profit, or
heing. wiped out when their narrow
margins are exhausted.
The law forbids gambling through
out Germany. But after the great
upset Of the fall of 1918 when the
power Of the law seemed to be weak
ened, thousands upon thousands fell
victims to the charm of this forbid
j NN11r sn1 Nn
newly created, remained open day
and night. The little bali spinning
about the slotted wheel was watched
by whole families, lips dried with
suspense being moistened over and
over again by the slipping of sweet,
tizzy drink still calico champagne. .
Often Raided
The police often have raided these
nests. Children stationed as look
outs have been arrested and forced 20
miss a number of days at school.
Some of the places found it too trou-
closing only deprived the smaller
tettors. For the wealthier people
so called "betting syndicates" eprang
up. An barber, jobless bookkeeper
or clerk could start a syndicate by
hiring an office, joining hands with
huge winnings on the races.
For half year the syndicates
fourished. but after they had paid
some tremendous winning dividends
the inevitable crash came. There
was panic among. the investors
and the tide of syndicate prosperity
quickly ebbed. But above and beside
all this the tide of the gambling
spirit persisted.
New it is the pari mutuel betting
machines that are doing a record
business. Stcnographers, messen~
1n1 n.,cs
and market women all have taken to
gambling. The cook today accept a
place with the stipulation that she
may go out for several hours each
forenoon. What does she do with
this time? She makes a tour of the
betting rooms and form the informa-
ton received there she puts bets
on horse racing in the north, middle
or south of Europe (Which horses
and which places she never saw in
all her life). Then she returns to
the cook stove proud of the interna-
tiona1ity of Ter business connec-
tions.
If this were a cinema production
the next reel would show the bourse.
Wheelbarrow roulette, cIandestina
only cheap substitutes. They are
too trifing to have said so much
about.
Really impressive speculation is
only possible at the boUrSe. me
number admitted is limited, but buSl-
ness RACES. Big and little banks are
smothered under pile of orders.
One day this week there were more
transactions than during whole
quarter of a year formerly.
Record Business
Industrial and transportation
shares, the real value of which the
throng Of spectators have not the
| slightest idea, are eagerly traded IL
as nrices change and exchange rates
The "sardines" packed in the ex-
! change jostle and fight each other
until only a fair sized puglllst can
reach the brokers' enclosure, Whlle
! the Jack Dempseys among the sar-
! dimes can actually place their oroers'
The army of bank officials and prok-
| ers, busy until after midnight, cannon
keen up with their work. The eN-
| change has been forced to close for
DAVIS to catch up, while the bank d.
| rectors publicly have sent out word
of pessimistic warninS- saying thar
the skyscraper edifice Quilt up by the
| sDeculat tors will collapse. The pub
! lie has failed to heed these warnings
like wild animals who have tasted
| blood. ..,.
The republicans and the monarch
lists for once are united in JOINT
worship of King Dollar. AS the
throne of the dollar mounts higher
the crowd surmises something must
| be doing in the way of increased eX,
ontinues to buy, buy, buy.
Marriage Shy?