MEXICO ASTOUNDED

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 22

MEXICO ASTOUNDED

GAMBLING DENS CLOSED

LIQUOR BAN EXPECTED

The first decree of President Cardenas, of Mexico, ordered closing of all gambling halls in the country, initiating what is believed to be a policy of reform in the Administration (states tho "Christian Science Monitor").

Tho President's decree, less than a week after he took office, was received enthusiastically throughout Mexico, hundreds of messages of congratulations being sent to General Cardenas, especially by business interests which havo suffered because of the thousands upon thousands of pesos diverted to the roulette wheels and dice tables.

President' Cardenas's prohibition of gambling, which was followed by orders transmitted by the Ministry of the Interior to all its sub-offices to immediately close gaming halls regardless of size, affected, among others, the widely-known Foreign Club, situated at the-edge of Mexico City, inside the Stato of Mexico, and the Casino de la Sevla in Cuernavaca. " The Foreign Club t constructed at a cost of about 1.000,000 pesos, is said to have been tho largest1 gambling salon on- • the American continent, and is reputed to have netted its owners a profit of something Jike 3,000,000 .pesos' during the seven months it was in operation. Closing of the Foreign Club, which had become the symbol of "night life" in Mexico and which has been repeatedly attacked in Congress, was. effected technically through enforcement of .certain clauses of Article 123 of the Federal Constitution making it illegal to establish gambling halls or intoxicating liquor dispensaries in "work* centres." • The Constitution of tho State of Mexico was also invoked' in the closing decree, issued through the Governor of that entity. There was no opposition to the action by the State Government in-spite of the fact that the State was receiving approximately. 25,000 pesos monthly in taxes, the money being used in building roads. ACTION PRAISED. Enthusiastic response was evoked in Congress by. the Presidential decree, tho Chamber of Deputies even appointing a special commission to visit President Cardenas and congratulate him on the measure. Deputies of the National Revolutionary Party bloc highly praised the action and frankly predicted that the Government has undertaken a policy of reform which will "eliminate all centres of vice in Mexico." There was some ■ question about whether tho edict would be extended to all the points along the border where gambling, exists on a smaller scalo in the form of slot machines and similar devices, but the militant support shown the measure in Congress indicated that'it would be carried out fully, affecting probably even betting on horse races; cock-fights, fronton games, and the "popular lotteries" in which pennies and nickels are played. The decree does not affect the National Lottery, which is operated by the Government for tho benefit of the /Public Charities Department. President Cardenas's order fell like a bombshell into the circles of promoters and gamblers who had been preparing activities on a much wider scale, having recently opened new gambling halls 'in' seaside resorts like Acapulco on the west coast and Tampico on the Gulf coast. ■Some discussion has arisen over the possiblo effects of the ban on the tourist trade. The consensus is that the number of touristss will not be diminished and 'that the harm gambling; did to the country far outweighed any doubtful benefits indirectly accrued.

In connection with the anti-gambling edict it was recalled that during his campaign President Cardenas asserted that one of his first measures as Chief Executive would be prohibition of sale nnd manufacture of intoxicating beverages throughout Mexico. In. view of the ban on gambling and in spite of "thr> fact that' such action probably would meet with more opposition, .the opinion exists in some circles that President Cardenas may soon take- some drastic measures to encourage temperance. _^____ -,