The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1949-07-21


cident" being right up at the May
or's office Camera and alb in time
to get scoop on the slot machine
raid on Friday afternoon.
AS was to be expected, practically
the sole topic of conversation
around town" during the past few
days has been the raids l believe
/ can truthfully say that l have
talked to literally hundreds of peo-
pie since the raids took place, and
here are some of the reactions:
Most of those to whom l talked
were of the opinion that Mayor
Mills-at whose direction the raids
were made - should have handled
this question of Slot machines in
private clubs in the same way that
it was handled in Cumberland, when
the head of each organization was
advised by letter that the use of
slot machines is illegal, and each
club was ordered to remove them
forthwith, and in that opinion 1
heartily concur, for the following
reason:
While the use of slot machines in
Hagerstown and Washington Coun-
ty is illegal, these organizations for
several years past have had the slot
machines in their clubs openly and
above board, and they have been
allowed to operate them without
molestation. Furthermore, they have
also been allowed to operate them
by the present administration since
they took Office at the end of March,
and therefore it would have SEEM
ed only reasonable for the Mayor
to have notified each organization
that a decision had finally been
reached to strictly enforce the law
in regard to slot machines, and give
them "A hours in which to remove
them.
Mayor Mills must also have
known that the raiding of these
clubs would, under the state liquor
law, deprive everyone of them of
their liquor licenses following a con-
viction, and that the license could
not be restored.
Another reaction that l got from
a number of people was that, if
Mayor Mills decided to raid the
clubs, why did he wait till July to
do it, when he certainly must have
known that slot machines are legal
as far as the federal government is
concerned, and that each club op-
Grating slot machines had to pay a
federal license on each machine on
July l = license fee which is not
returnable.
Still others to whom talked are
100 per cent in agreement with the
action of Mayor Mills.
But everyone with whom I have
discussed this matter stated that
they feel that the continued talk
and publicity is uncalled for on both
sides.
Finally-and as far as I'm con-
cerned this is both my first and last
statement on the whatever
we think of the raids. there's no
gain-saying the fact that they were
executed with clocklike precision.
l have received a letter from Rt.
Rev. Msgr. Nicholas H. Wegner, di-
rector of the famous Boys Town,
Nebraska, asking me to draw your
attention to the fact that a maya
zine racket, misusing the good name
of Boys Town, is being carried on
IN various communities throughout
the country without authority of
any sort.
If these racketeers show up in Ha-
gerstown and contact you, won't
you please stall them off and i'm
mediately get in contact with the
Police Department or the Chamber
of Commerce.
/ got a real kick on Sunday out of
getting II youngsters from the Ha-
gerstown Boys Club on board bus
for a weeks camping at the Elks
Camp at Camp Richie.
This is the second consecutive
year that members of the Boys Club
have been able, through the cooper
alton of the Hagerstown Lodge of
Elks, to enjoy a weeks camping.
and the Club owes the members of
the Elks Lodge in Hagerstown a
debt of gratitude for their fine ac-
ton.
The kids, as was to be expected.
were wildly enthusiastic, and apart
from the fun they will get out of a