Evening star., 1960-11-06
ByPAUL HOPE
star stan Writer

y star stan Writer
The wheels Of fortune for the
slot machine industry in
Charles County will turn on
the pull Of a lever Tuesday.
The lever on the voting ma
chine will determine whether
the jackpot goes to those who
would limit the size Of slot
machine operations or those
who would continue slots un-
limited.
On the ballot will be a
measure which would limit the
number Of machines permitted
Id any one establishment to 35.
raise licensing fees. tighten
controls on licensing and force
disclosure Of all persons who
have direct or indirect finan-
cial interest in slot machines.
Lined UP in favor Of the
measure are Democratic Party
leaders and the Protestant min
listers Of the county. Against it
are the Republican leadership
and the Hotel, Restaurant and
Tavern Association.
The outcome Of Tuesdays
vote may determine in large
part the course Of future legis-
lation dealing with slot ma
chimes in the county. Some of
the proponents view the refer
erdem as a stepping stone to
complete elimination Of slots
in the county. A vote against
it probably would be in
terpreted as q popular indorse-
ment of slot machines and
probably would be at least a
deterrent to further legisla-
tive efforts.
Brought From Underground
.Legaliszed slots in Charles
County were born Of a grand
jury report in the late 1940s
which recommended that the
flourishing underground busi-
ness be brought above and be
controlled. Observers estimated
that about 1,100 slot machine.
were being operated Illegally in
the county. Three other South.
ern Maryland counties already
had legal slot machines.
Former Republican State Sen.
ator James B. Monroe sponsored
legislation in the State Legisla.
ture which gave Charles County
residents the right to vote or
whether slot machines would be
legalized.
On June 81, 1949, county
voters made slots legal by 8
vote Of 1878 to 1,040. About 4;
per cent of the county's regis.
tered voters turned out.
In January, 1855, there were
1,l47 licensed machines, accord.
ing to Earl Milstead, who be.
came slot machine inspector
that year. He said the number
now licensed Is 1902.
Anti-slot machine people
claim the Jump in numbers i.
evidence that machines are be.
ing brought in from outside
the State in violation of Fed.
eral law.
Others discount this theory
claiming that most of then
were there all along but moi
licensed. They also point out
that there has been a slot man.
ufacturing plant in Maryland
for more than two years.
Referendum by Petition
The measure on Tuesday!
ballot is a bill sponsored b!
county Democratic legislator.
and passed by the State Legis'
lature in 1859. 1t would have
become law had not opponentI
been able to force a referen
dunn through the petition
method.
Although the county Demo.
cratic organization and the
ministers are together on the
referendum measure, they are
backing it for different reasons
The ministers see it as a steI
toward eventual elimination oi
the machines. Top county
Democrats-with the exception
Of David Hume, State party
treasurer. who wants then
abolished-are stating publicly
that the issue is not elimination
but control.
The proponents claim that
casinos are getting too big anc
that loopholes in the existing
law could lead to infestation Of
the county by gangster ele.
ments.
Mr.. Hume claims that slo'
machine interests already rep
resent the biggest single in
fluence in Maryland politics.
Mr.. Hume also says that bas
ing an economy on slot machin'
operations is unhealthy. H,
claims slot machines are keep
ing desirable businesses from
locating in the county.
The Democratic campaign
committee, composed of leading
party officials, claimed in al
advertisement in a count,
paper this week that the pres
ent law was created by the Re
publican Party for the expires
use Of several individuals" TO
private financial gain.
Fear HOnky- -TOnk
The advertisement also say
that under present law tn
small operators face bein
swallowed up by large gamblin