Evening star., 1949-06-01
Slim Vote Seen
In Slot Machine
Referendum
Approval OF Devices
Likely Tomorrow
In Prince Georges
I-ass ~ 6 Sr-sss
o. Ases Z Preston

0, Ale. Z Pwssoa
FgoSss~cis asx thai ssls = s<naIl
tfac tsgsa cs Prince Georges CRssass-
Us ss otsa qualified sx,ssga al DE-
ace The essess2o:a ~ lesA4Iszns klSs
machines n toEnafas Iv.eEvss-
sum,
Their IS agreement among most
assssonenta and aTosAsarzasA a. Ira
alAf that the kEnallsF TIRE vysss.
lie settsg tlse chances that ire
gambling devise AL h Ap.
proved II tatS Is - aslt an
.sar xTscc1ez4 last minute nzrge -
pubic interest etsala asiisk aaoat
h turnout large enough 10 defeat
Ille proposal
The usual claims arr hxlng
made by beth siaes. ot caaTss.
The liss oi Civic and church
groups Who seck 10 keep alos
out ot tho county we're
late in bringing theft tusrca 10
bear and In fact. failed 10 Votcs
their objections sillle tfae proposal
~as eeing prepared log suhEnisalnn
10 The voters
Fight Well Organized
Slot machine advocates. on the
other hand. apparently have pat
more money and hei,sf orgAnisA-
ton into the fgnt so-cAllea
sample ballots are GA hand al
most bars and liquor stoFes Their
aght has been organized under
the direction Of the County Ho-
tel and Restaurant Association.
which. accoselns to Fred p.
Mooneyham. president Is made up
1t isT members representing 3nA
u, sale liquor license holders Co.
operating sith the group II shs
Package Liquor Store Association
II about g. OF sale liquor dealers.
be said
While the slot machine op-
ponents have acted individually as
the proponents Of
the gambling devices have Te-
tained a professional public rela-
tions organization, kapeland As-
soeiates Of Silver Spyine. 10 put
their viewpoint across This has
been done through publicity.
advertisements. direct
mail, handhllls and radio spot
announcements
Typical o. the campaign litsrA-
sure picked up at one bar II .
leafiet printed ovet the name Of
the hotel and restaurant associa.
ton. On oiie side II printed
list Of questions and answers tell
Ina why the amusement devices"
should be approved. On the
reverse side Is n large -lettered ap-
peal 10 vote for the question that
will appear OH the ballot,
Like Sample Ballet.
Beside this Ia o box prepared
like n sample ballot. although not
designated ~ such. which carries
the following statement over
two boxes marked, For" and
Against.
An Act 10 Lleenae Amusement
Devices and Use the revenue
derived theiefrom zach year 10
REDUCE THE TAXES or
EVERY TAXPAYER In Prince
Georges County
This. however. Ia not the aile.-
tion thai appears on the ofTlciai
ballot nor In there anything IL,
the Law that requires the license
revenues from slot machines 10
be applied 10 the reduction Of
taxes. In the two other Mary
land counties sha, have approved
the devices by vote Of the people.
one has increased the Tax rate and
The other has failed 10 lower iis
levy.
Language in the Prince Oeorsrs
bill simply Expresses the
hope that the tax rate will be re-
duced.
Sponsors Of the legislation In
the General Assembly which pro-
vided for touiorrus'a referendum
are. for the most part. fefralning
from active participation In tfe
fsiat.
The legislators sent Up o trial
balloon By announcing plans for
the measure three weeks before
adjournment Of The General As
seznbiy and withheld final pakmass
Of The bill until the day Of ad-
journment 20 permit opponents
10 express their ssxa OF ash for
. hearing But no one objected
turing this time.
Since then. however. the cssar-
lzations that have eo1se osTs
against the plan include fiss
Ministerial AMso~ia-
Jon eosnprisinE f1se Protestant
the County Council u
Isri Scouts. tie CIVIC FedrrAtian.
Ehlch had inoaraed licensed ysn-
ssa machines only. the county
siaaptsr of tlae American AAno<aa-
Ion Of University Women. the
League Of Women voters. the
County Federation Of womrns
Clubs and tiae County Coanasl Ut
Parent Teacher Associations
Police salps. Ralph Brown also
,eiieyes slot MACHINES should h~
defeated because ihe county DOES
bot have enough men 70 ssafoFos
lhe prw Lag. n adopted. His force
d iirnitrd 10 "a men for q county
about the size Of ho4isosnesy and
nth a larger population Mcni-
has about 10 policeman
Oliver kEetEerots. o Republican
Ind former member Of tase 0~n~
raj Assembly. has distributed s~v-
raj thousand Isasets tasfoastous
he county ever hsa r&fEss appeal
ne 70 h0FDeCwners. paFsssts. mr.
izxrss builders ard All eisln~ra
o setse axaGsssf sios machines
Samuel WYNN os ise saasc Il
Election fsipervanBxs. hasea isss
potential vote 81 as o.,