Gambling Evolution
The bank night insurance policies being sold at ten cents is an excellent example of the evolution of gambling. People who feel that the constant agitation against slot machines, punch boards, raffle books, base ball tickets, bank night, screeno, bingo, and other forms of mild but nevertheless contagious forms of gambling, might give some thought to this. Bank night, in itself, probably could not be construed as straight out gambling because no outlay of money is involved. It is merely something the theatre management gives in addition to the regular program to stimulate business and pack the house, but it inculcates the gambling fever, to say nothing of-the encouragement it gives to other and more serious forms of gaming. Insurance at lOc a chance is a new money making scheme. Bank night is parent. That same thing is true of wheels and raffles used at charity and church bazaars; harmless in themselves, they nevertheless give the regular gamblers an opportunity to point to them as a justification for their particular racket. As a matter of fact, a gambling den that caters only to men and women financially able to play, is far less dangerous than the punch board and what has become known as the "one armed bandit.”
They are open to adults and children alike, prominently in evidence in many of the stores and confectioneries. It is significant to note that stores that catered to school children usually had more slot machines and other forms of gambling than the stores in localities away from the schools. Jefferson City has always been regarded as a rather open town and while there has never been any disposition and there is no disposition now to make it 'blue law," there is every reason to set up safeguards to keep the so-called free and easy element from taking complete charge. They usually need but a small foothold. Therefore, those who set up, patronize and foster the -harmless form of gambling" are the greatest aids the processional gambler can get anywhere. That is the chief objection to bank night and screeno. Oddly enough, the night after Capitol Theatre enjoyed its largest crowd, brought there by the lure of $250, it showed a picture entitled "Frisco Kid" which vividly depicted what a city owned and controlled by the free and easy element might conceivably come to.
They are open to adults and children alike, prominently in evidence in many of the stores and confectioneries. It is significant to note that stores that catered to school children usually had more slot machines and other forms of gambling than the stores in localities away from the schools. Jefferson City has always been regarded as a rather open town and while there has never been any disposition and there is no disposition now to make it 'blue law," there is every reason to set up safeguards to keep the so-called free and easy element from taking complete charge. They usually need but a small foothold. Therefore, those who set up, patronize and foster the -harmless form of gambling" are the greatest aids the processional gambler can get anywhere. That is the chief objection to bank night and screeno. Oddly enough, the night after Capitol Theatre enjoyed its largest crowd, brought there by the lure of $250, it showed a picture entitled "Frisco Kid" which vividly depicted what a city owned and controlled by the free and easy element might conceivably come to.