Evening star., 1947-05-26
Loss Of Tourist Trade
Feared in Hot Springs
Gambling Cleanup
By Hol Boyle
Asseeiafsd Press Staff Wri,sr

HOT SPRINGS, Ark, May a.
The 100000 night poker games
are over in this nationally known
health resort, but some citizens
want them back.
They are afraid that reform will
cost Hot Springs, long as wide open
as any city in America, the patron
age OF many of the half-milIion
visitors who come here annually for
fun or healthful baths.
Right now the lid Of civic virtue
Is clamped on tighter than . eA J
size derby on q 7Ka-size head. The
big casinos that crossed $50. .000, 900
a year are shut-even the two-bit
are gone. The fancy
bookie joints are closed.
"You can still place bet on the
horses" complained one resident.
But it's on a curbstone basis"
The new era began last Decem-
Der after a group Of GIs led by Sid
ney s. McMath, former Marine
combat officer, overthrew political
machine forces headed by Leo p.
Mclaughlin, mayor for 40 years.
Gambling Houses Close.
The professional gamblers prompt
ly closed up. and Leo OF Hot
Springs" as dapper a dresser al the
late Jimmy Walker Of New York
Is under Is indictments charging
bribery, misuse OF public funds and
other unpleasant things.
The question confronting Hot
Springs now Is. "how long will the
lid stay on?"
Some supporters Of the CT clean
up campaign insist that its leaders
ran not on a platform of "blue-nose
reform" but only on a platform to
Dust machine politics and restore
clean elections.
These supporters believe that Hot
Springs will open up again.
The mass of visitors here come
merely to rest and treat their all
ments with hot mineral baths. But
thousands of playboys also come
who like to gamble and spend
freely.
Visitors Leave Sooner.
One long time resident told me
Some visitors who used to stay
months now take the regular three
week course of baths and then leave
because they say there Is nothing /
to do any more"
Trade has fallen of some In the
last month, but 1t Is uncertain yet
whether this is a result of the shut /
down OF the gambling houses or
just a normal drying up of post
war spending.
The businessmen along Central
avenue, the chief thoroughfare, are
divided on whether the town should
be open or shut.
"The general feeling is that If
there is to be gambling the COM
munity should benefit from it," said
one. THE profits shouldn't 70 to
the individual or one group"
oSAAUAe&s mauG SlVV,VVU u car.
A grand jury estimated that the
local gambling syndicate earned
gross profits of $1,671 ,92s from II
,asinos while the city collected only
about $50. 900 In 'chicken-feed" fines
against bookies. The grand jury said
several local gamblers made more
han 100000 year and one paid
ak on an income Of $176,000.
Gambling is felony in Arkansas,
,ut enforcement of the law Is large
y left to local officers.
One veteran observer put the sit
lation this way:
This town runs in cycles. First
here is machine rule and the town
s open. Then there is q reform era.
Then machine rule comes back, and
he town reopens.
TITS been an of land ON matter
ike that for hundred years. But
he machine eras are generally long
,r than the reform eras."
This may be of interest to 400
ormer workers in the closed casi-
los. They are now unemployed.
Bananas were introduced into the
United States shortly after the Civil