The Washington herald., 1922-08-03
Robbery by Mathematical Rules.

- AROPRlEIORS OF gambling houses pander 10
of the most common and most fatal OF
= human passiohs--the desire to obtain some
thing Tor nothing The longing to gct-rieh-quick
spervades every stratum of society An upright char
acter, indeed, is required of the who resists
temptation in this respect. But the who
manipulate gambling devices never gamble them
SELVES. Some of them have instructive apprecia
hon OF the natural laws which make games OF
chance impossible means Of securing any perma-
1ent wealth. Others have learned bitter lessons in
the, school Of experience and engaged in pass
ng their hard knocks along 10 others. They play
game, however, at which they not lose
except OF course, when the police step in as they
intend 70 do in nearby Maryland and Virginia.
These men base the certainty OF their profits
: on indefinite rules of philosophy economics
out on simple algebraic formulas-familiar to the
average high school boy. 1t all figures nicely
IS the theorems of Euclid 1t is almost impossible
% make mistake. Instances Of bankruptcy on the
oart OF master gamblers uncommon The return
IS certain that state like Monte Carlo
2 iepend the OF its gaming tables for its
annual tax budget-and any conservative bank
> would lend the state money the prospect of
hese profits.
So All this merely goes to show what fools are
made Of some Washington people by the owners Of
sard and dice clubs the District line. They
selected for their business what is probably.
Sahe best location in the United States The clubs
: : IRE within convenient motoring distance Of city
> With high per capita wealth and unbroken pros
-s9erity. Patronage is certain. So are profits.
.ae.. Virginia and Maryland authorities would not
sz,esmit organized gang of highwaynlen to lurk
sthe bushes on their side of the line armed with
.evolvers to hold up District motorists At the FIRST
of any such activities the entire police forces
ssf the nearby counties would be available to put
-s.'sop to them. Yet the highwaymen would be- if
s.Sossible, more honest thieves than the gambling
-iouse proprietors They at least would risk phys
cal HARM DEATH the hands of intended vic
rr-eirhs. The gambler risks nothing ss..ss.zc,z :
Existence OF such clubs as those exposed
-s,y The Washington Herald in the immediate out
= .kirts OF Washington constitute than nu
lance to the Capital. They have tendency to dis
assupt its business life, to promote dishonesty among
employees, TO take great deal of money out Of cir
- niaton and to genuine hardship in the fan
les OF men too weak to resist the temptation.
.,Ir Abuse OF the track concessions in nearby
Maryland has proved genuine evil to the District
--of- Columbia. 1t has resulted in thousands of dol,
ars passing from District banks from the accounts
,f District stores, and from the pockets of District
PEOPLE. But the gambling house evil is even greater
i has more omnous possibilities 1t affords an
easier means Tor gentlemen to throw money away
md the human race never will reach the point
Shere it resist the temptation cast aside its
>ocketbook. Es
Folks will persist in the faith that business men
siil invest cash in buildings and equipment for the
AXE OF playing the role Of Santa Claus to needy
oks This yet has been the case 1t never
riil be the long the world lasts
The District of Columbia expects that Virginia
md Maryland authorities will busy themselves at
mce. 1t expects than a sensational raid or
staged to appearances. II expects that these
iorses viii be raided Systematically, one by one
ha. the proprietors will be arrested the gambling
'araphernaia destroyed and sufficiently heavy SEN
-nces imposed TO prevent any other misguided cti
ems from revvlng the business of algeraic robbery