The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-20

secret. Now We have been forced
to cut out everything but poker,
and I'll tell you the receipts have
been growing pretty thin. The d.
vide for the bosses is getting small
er every week. We're hardly max
ing enough to keep ourselves go
ing. l recall the good old days in
Rock Island when we had a couple
Of high class gambling places that
were run absolutely on the square.
The officials knew they we're oper-
ating. and held the proprietors to a
strict accounting. We didn't per-
init drunken men or boys to play.
and we knew that the instant that
we violated an order of the police
authorities we were closed up.
That ended it.
Working for Grafters.
But now. Well, it's a long
story. The fact is Of late we fell
lows have been mere workmen for
, bunch of grafters. We've got to
split every dollar we take in with
them, and they almost force US to
be crooked even when we want to
be on the square. Yes, we have
been going under full protection.
You might say we are loafing now.
but we have been told that when
the grand jury finishes its business
we will be allowed to 60 again.
But I'll have to be shown"
Some of the underworld opera
tors in Rock Island have made
large property investments with the
promise that they would be indef-
initely protected in their illegal
trafiicking.
l dropped into a place on Sec
ond avenue that seems to be ia
vorite gathering place OF those who
can't get enough entertainment
during regulation hours. did not
take the number OF the place. 1t
is between Eighteenth and Nine
teenth streets. There is a bar on
the first floor, with a hotel above.
The main entrance Is from the al
ley. The hotel part was filled with
drunken men and women. 1t was
nearly o'clock in the morning.
Two men were kept busy serving
liquor.
How can you get away with this
stuff - inquired of one Of the men
who seemed to be in charge.
Hell, we ought to be able to go,
| he replied. THE guy that runs
this place has been kicking in plen.
ty. It's costing him about $500 q
month to get by with this lay and
q few other places that he controls
So we might Just as we'll get the
money as long as the good thing
lasts. It's grand little old squeeze
game the grafters are playing il
Rock Island, but they've got US fel
lows where we can't say 2 word
} That's all there is to it."
II I visited six bars and restaur
ants on Third avenue between
Twentieth and Twenty-third streets
all but two conducted by negroes
Liquor was to be had at all o
;. them. At one Of the negro resorts
q poker game was in progress, ant
was told that after midnight tn,
play would be transferred to tn,
second floor and that then l coult
get any kind Of action l was look
ing for. At four of the places Their,
, were soliciting prostitutes.
Filled With Hope.
One of the negroes was not in thu
least uncommunicative. He admit
ted that business was quiet, Blu
made no concealment OF feeling
that the lull was but temporary
This happens every SO Often" b
says. There's got to be a lttl
agitation to satisfy the nice folk
in town, but after a while they'll
get tired of being on our tail. ant
the old. town will hum as it ha
been humming. We have been sit