Nogales international., 1940-03-23
A Challenge To The Reformers Who
Killed Nogales' Big Annual Event

FUTURE possibilities of Nogales and Santa Cruz
County becoming tourist center and winter re-
sort have been irreparably damaged by handful Of
people bent on suppressing gambling which assured
the continued growth and success Of the annual cele
bration were depending upon to start the steady
flow of commerce that meant muchneeded prosperity
for our city and county
Admittedly, so-called "successfu' celebration can
be held without gambling, but the Nogaes Interna-
tOnal and its constituents maintain that any Western
celebration is inevitably more successful with gam
bling than without, because (a) gambling pays the
bills, wping out deficits and providing funds for pro-
gressive promotion and (b) gambling brings back the
coorful and vividness Of the Old West factor
tay necessary in attracting tourist interest and at
tendance.
Finding their hands tied by meager minority in
position to exercise virtual dictatorship, Nogales
civic leaders and supporters considered themselves
unfairly blocked and shelved plans for the 1910 La
Fiesta Mexicana But the American Legion, with it's
usual valor may decide that effort to carry the
celebration MUST be made for the common good in
spite of almost nsurmountable obstacles The Nogales
international in this opinion and pledges it's
fullest support to whatever celebration the Legion
may promote even if it is of sensational char
acter than Easter egg hunt In addition, main
tain there is still time to snatch all the chestnuts from
the fire
The reformers (meaning the unexpected 1910 crop
of gambling antagonists toto not any certain in
dividuals or groups) declare they determined to
suppress games of chance during the local celebration
because gambling is Illegal Threats to invoke the law
have been made both directly and by implication. The
utter inconsistency of the present attitude Of the
formers compared with their attitude in past years
provokes us to question the motives behind their
change Of sentiment which consider unreasonable.
It also provokes to question the reliability of their
sense of justice and it provokes to question their
interest in the welfare Of their community and county,
CLARITY STAND
This turmoil gambling was stirred up by the
reform element. Therefore it is the duty OF the
reform element to clarity their stand the problem
Do they oppose gambling at local celebrations because
it is illegal-the only reasonable basis for their an
tagonism? Or do they favor the un-American injus
tice of closing one for class instance of gambling
while allowing others to run rampant turning their
head aside to avoid seeing what is obvious? TO invoke
law against person or group and not invoke 1t
against other individuals or groups engaged in the
same activity is not justice. THOSE WHO BELIEVE
IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF "JUSTICE
TO ALL" HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND THAT
LOCAL REFORMERS SHOW THEIR TRUE COL
ORS Actions speak louder than words, and the No.
gales international demands action on the following
proposition:
"Gamb]ing in certain forms now exists IN Nogales
as anyone can learn to their satisfaction 1t they
don't know already If any of the local reformers are
really sincere in their desire for enforcement OF gam
bling laws, then let them Immediately begin prosecu
ton of vigorous movement to eradicate all forms OF
gambling from city. If they have no sincere de-