Evening star., 1947-12-02
Slot Machines.
:
l.
Seen as Future
Political Issue
Referendum Victory
Would Set Pattern
Inst. Moys County
Third OF a Sertes.)
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Sfaff cofrssnondsnt

By Alex R. Preston
ster stoff Correspondent 's'
LEONARDTOWN, Nd, Dec. A.
If voters approve he slot machine
question in next Tuesdays referen-
dunn In st. Marys County, the pat
tern will be set for the leading issue
Of all future political campaigns for
the Board Of County Commissioners.
An act of the special session Of
the General Assembly last month
calls for the referendum which, II
approved. permits the commission
ers to license and impose tax on
those types Of "coin-operated ma
chimes" they may designate by
resolution.
If voters decline to extend this
authority, the issue will be dead and
no further determination of the
question can be reached under this
particular law. If the referendum
carries, however, the present board.
or any future one, may designate
which machines are legal. may alter
their position, or ban them from
time to time.
Basis for Election Campaigns.
With authority to act, commits
sioners Of the future are expected
to be elected principally because OF
their position on slot machines.
The three members OF the present
board, who do not succeed them
selves in office, are actively supports
ing legalizing of the machines.
In fact nearly all public officials
here advocate tax on the ma
chimes, giving as their reasons the
revenue that will come to the
county.
Two notable exceptions are Chief
Judge William M. Loker Of the 7th
Judicial Circuit and Miss Lettie
Dent, county school superintendent
who is the only woman superintend-
ent in the State.
Opposition Leader.
Miss Dent is vice chairman Of the
st. Marys County Civic Association,
the organization which Is taking the
lead in opposing the machines.
When approached in her ONCE for
comment, she said: .-...t
when I am seated at this desk
I am the school superintendent and
I do not care to discuss the question.
I reserve the right to do as ] wish
as a private individual when am
not at my desk" :.
It was Judge Loker who classified
grand jury which in May ignored
the courts instructions to investi-
gate gambling. Judge Charles G.
Marbury had delivered strong
charge to the jury when it first
met. When. no indictments were
returned Judge Loker then refused
Ito. dismiss the jury and called IT
fback; for the June term, At that
Etinae 23 persons were indicted.
Twenty of these cases are pending
in Montgomery County Circuit
Court, to which they were removed:
two were freed by hung juries and
one has appealed his conviction.
Senator Associate Counsel.
State Senator Paul j. Bailey, Re-
publican, who sponsored the legis-
lation making the referendum pos
sible, is associated with Philip H.
Dorsey, former Democratic State
Senator, w. O. e. Sterling and
Joseph D.. Weiner, as defense coun-
sci. Mr.. Weiner is the brother Of
Harry Weiner, one of the Defend
ants about whose case the jury
could not agree.
Senator Bailey, said, "The thing
that q lot of people don't like about
the grand jury's action is that 1t
indicted only % defendants ana
ignored charges against many more.
If they wanted to crack down and
clean up slot machines they should
have indicted everyone alike. That
would have been about 400 IN all"
~ Those ignored, as we'll as those
indicted, Senator Bailey said, repre-
sented some OF the county's Oldest
family names.
Slot machines have been in the
county at least A years, he said and
the people, generally, do not regard
them as offensive. He said this was
the reason why the cases against
the 20 remaining defendants were
moved out of the county.
Convictions Difficult.
Under the Maryland Constitution,
juries are judges Of law and factsln
criminal cases. Therefore convic-
tions would be difficult here despite
an Interpretation by the courts that
State law makes slot machines illeg-
al. except in Anne Arundel County,
which has a special act. States
Attorney G. Henry Camalier said
; he will prosecute the cases In: Mont
gomery County but at the same tins
he favors making them legal fos
tax purposes.
Feeling on the question is sharply
divided around the courthouse
people either are avidly for slot ma
chimes or just as vehemently against
them.
, In the outlying areas, however
it is the Indifferent voter that slot
machine opponents fear the most
. There are about $500 voters regis
i, tered in Saint Marys. The Demo.
Gratis have book majority Of about
2-to-l. Less than 5000 normally
, vote, however, with the Democratic
; majority usually about 500. Sources
, around the courthouse who actively
support legalized machines esti-
mate the referendum vote VIII b<
about 5000. ..<
Hope for Large TurnsHt. i
The civic Association Is pinning III
hopes Of victory on larger turnout
the larger the vote the better are
its chances, leaders Of the group
believe. ......
The slot-machine issue is not d.
vided along partisan or. faetlonai
, lines. however. A Democratic Gov
ernor signed the bill sponsored BY =
Republican. Mr.. Dorsey, leader OF
lone of the Democratic factions, Is
. associated with Senator Bailey. Re.
publican, as defense counsel ana
supports legalized machines.
Ne;fhsr does there appear to be q