The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-01-28
GAMBLING, NEMESIS OF ECONOMIC
AND POLITICAL Welfare OF STATE


This week pink, fun-pokng circulating around the
legislative halls had heading Lets Legaze
Times Comes Again No Morefor the gambling fraternity
And during the past week "big gambling" bill was in
toduced in the house Should it, by rare chance be
enacted would give real substance to the heading noted
ABOVE Under this proposal Glib 113) everything from fantan
to faro would be legalized whole feld" of employ
ment would be afforded ambitious young Monanans
ing Tor an opportunity to get ahead right here IN their home
state whole volume of tax revenue Cover million
bucks esmated) would be the disposal of hard
legislators.
Of course, the pug-line that ntigambing
be enforcedtherefore why not egaze tax dol
lars and bring effective regulation Such
line of patter phoney nickel Gambling pro
hbons CAN be enforced have been enforced not only in
but other states as we'll when enforcement officials
have had the gus to do their job Likewise this business
OF securing defective regulation is also something else that
good but doesn't stand up People who are accus
toned to violating the aw-as is the with at least
portion of gambling fraternity Montana they currently
operate outside the law seldom find their respect law and
order improved under regulation Only yesterday evil
dene support the latter assertion furnished by Gov
c. A. Robins of Idaho and Mavor William F. Devn Of Seattle
when they informed Porlands lady mayor Dorothy McCu
Tough Lee that Ito Great Falls Tribune) q legislation
of slot machines private clubs leads evaons of the law
In opinion, wrote Devn there be compromise
with slot machines 1t has been experience that most if
not all of the hue and favor of slot machines from
those who profit by them and not from those who play them
What applies to slot machines also applies all other forms
of gambling
Looking the angle conceded that
needs tax badly but is that need great that must
give responsibility to vice? Must build states future
slot machines blackjack tables roulette wheels, etc
Must take this "easy way OUT and in doing build
frankensten that will in short time to be on
entire body poceconomcaly, politically and morally?
consider for the economic angle. The bill,
by admission of its proponents approved, would bring n
somewhat million dollars Based the
experiences of other states this well represent busi
take upwards of $50 Millions
business that would rank not too far behind agriculture and
mining in
How broken homes and l-fed kids would such al
take represent? fantastic suggestion? Not at ALL In
recall many this, due either
gambling drinking, both These
about despite existence of gambling restrictions hat then
be expected if egaize and permit the operation
Of dozens of "clip joints?
Possibly comparison in order Bad the saloons
preProhibion days. custom dictated that seldom
stepped within the swinging doors Bullock what's happened
brought back the saloon in 1886 (and plead guilty
having it, In many of the sedae joints
almost and damn sight It
We've accept this face the bar
floor" look.
Similarly should gambling become respectable and
cepted and will be gambling away
amount of their economic substance
building and maintaining homes and families
general good of the community 1t only result in
lowering family living Standards broken homes
and increasing welfare burden upon the state.
as statewide wellfnanced gambling
liquor fraternity matter of only few grab
much of political life has happened in Nevada
1t would result in rule by the underworld Non
sense be-but-in Montana county last Nv
November the checkered vest gentry enough political
weight defeat attorney who had steadasty refused
wink gambling law violations. In 1896 in another %
missed being because they would not hi
wholesale law violations In third only recently
as December county attorney told he had bent
to be decent" with his cOuntys "eaSy