The New York herald., 1921-01-09
Gambling alaces, Bar
rooms and Dance
Halls, E a ~ Jump
From San Diego,
Draw Fire of Re-
formers in u. S.

observe all the formalities at Tia Juana.
Introductions are unnecessary.
To any one who knows thing or two
about the ways of professional gamblers the
games at Tia Juana are a joke. They are
in almost every instance, of the fake variety
with percentages largely in favor of the
house. The result is that few persons sue
ceed In winning any large amount Of money,
although there are stories afloat about the
place of huge killings"
Some Of the games to be sure are fairer
than others, or could be, under normal cir
cumstances, although they are of a char
acter which might easily lend themselves
to crookedness were the gambling proprietors
so inclined and in view Of the general spirit
OF lawlessness they probably are. Some
people win, to be sure, but they are in the
minority, and sometimes they do not get out
of Tia Juana with their winnings
man I know in Los Angeles told me Of
an acquaintance of his who won $500 one
afternoon in one of the gambling places
Some Mexicans saw him put the roll Of bills
in his pocket. Before he got across the bor-
der again he was attacked by a group who
hit him over the head with a lead pipe, and
when he woke up the $500 was gone.
There are all sorts of stories around San
Diego about persons being held up and
robbed at Tia Juana. The result is that the
resort is not well patronized at night ex-
the visitors generally are on the American
side Of the border. The business is rushing
In the afternoon and early evening.
Winnings of Gambling Houses
Estimated at Billion a Year
The heavy percentage in favor of the pro-
fessional gamblers yields them a fortune
daily. Those who watched the play on July
T. the biggest day Tia Juana ever had said
at aati 10 fba
leans left million dollars behind them when
they went home at night. Upon this basis
1t is fair to say that the gambling alone at
Tia Juana clears up for the professionals
billion dollars year.
OF course, there is a rake off" for the
Mexican officials who protect the place The
story Is that Gov. Estaben Cantu of Lower
California receives a revenue of $165,00 a
month from the gambling privileges
although the money is split with others in
the Government service.
Additional revenue is derived from the
keepers of the various cafes and Joints"
many Of which sell opium and other drugs.
Most of the concessions at Tia Juana are
operated by syndicate. the chief figures Of
which are said to be Sunny jim" Coffroth,
Booze" Beyers and Baron. Long. They
are credited with having made fabulous
sums out of the enterprise and some of the
money they have invested in real estate in
San Diego.
Reformers Seek Assistance
From New Mexican President
Since the advent of the administration of
Gen. Obregon in Mexico few weeks ago.
with the increased Mexican desire for recog
milton by the United States. the refofmers
who are seeking to clean up Tia Juana are
bringing pressure to bear on the new Mexi-
can President. They hope Obregon will
force Gov. Cantu to stop the gambling at
least
Meantime the prohibition forces are work.
ing with the State Department to put into
effect more stringent passport regulations
They have organized the people of San Diego
the preachers and others who see in Tia
Juana a bad influence for their pretty Cali
fornia city OF $4,000. These people have sent
a long petition to the state Department
thousands of names. They call Il
the wickedest city on the American conti-
nent.
The state Department. gently but firmly.
has let II be known that the United States
cannot prescribe the morals of a foreign
even be 1t as close as Mexico. and
that, further 1t finds 1t impossible to put any
heavy restriction on travel across the bor-
ier The regulations now in effect were due
70 the war. In normal times there is no
such routine, although customs officers are
'n hand to collect duties on goods brought
nto the United States or to prevent the i'm
,ortation of articles the entry of which is
In this connection II seems there is little
iirect Importation of whisl<ey from Tia
Iuana. There are whisley runners, of course.
'or the Government finds 1t impossible to
watch every trail closely. but on the main
'oad where the automobile travel takes
place few persons venture to break the law.
Any one with an automobile who attempts
to import bottle Of whiskey finds his auto
mobile taken away IL he is caught.