19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

GAMBLING GEYSERS
Sirs:
That fellow Robert Boyle comes on strong and friendly as a new rooster in a hen house (The Hottest Spring, March 19). His descriptions of fun-spangled Hot Springs—its sporty habitu�s and sporting activities, its solid citizens and Runyonesque characters—present a delightfully accurate picture of a thoroughly charming town.

One encounters lots of otherwise nice folks who have the mule-lipped opinion that excitement in Arkansas is limited to throwing rocks at snakes and that nocturnal activity consists of sitting around by lantern light and discussing the price of soybeans. We're grateful for your contributions to their education.
LEWIS M. TEETER
Pine Bluff, Ark.

Sirs:
You state that the old order in Hot Springs was overthrown by the G.I.s under my leadership, that during my tenure as district attorney gambling was closed but subsequent to my election as governor illegal gambling returned.

I enforced the law while I was prosecuting attorney. Subsequent to my election as governor, as the chief law enforcement officer of the state, I continued to honor my oath of office.

On February 28, 1952 the state police, under Captain Ben Kent, raided the Southern Club and the Pines, confiscating $75,000 worth of gambling equipment.

Open, illegal gambling was not resumed in Arkansas until after I went out of the governor's office in January 1953.
SIDNEY S. MCMATH
Little Rock, Ark.

?Governor McMath did indeed put a stop to the gambling—on the day of the raid.—ED.

Sirs:
A striking example that gambling can be conducted cleanly by local citizens as a tourist attraction.

Some years ago it used to be this way in our wonderful old city of New Orleans. The tourists used to flock here for something besides Oysters Rockefeller and the French Quarter. Then the syndicate came, followed by a crime commission, and this spoiled everything.

Except for Mardi Gras and Sugar Bowl time, we get the Greyhound bus and $10 excursion crowd. The trouble with reformers is they don't know when to stop reforming. Next we'll probably have closed movies, closed taverns and no golf on Sunday.
JUD RAYMOND
New Orleans