Tacoma’s Mayor Defends ‘Liberal’ Vice Policy
Mayor Wright responds to allegations that Tacoma is a hotbed of corruption, arguing that tax revenue from gambling is necessary for city operations.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Seattle Times, in its issue of yesterday, published a seven-column headline attacking Mayor Wright of Tacoma. The article claims: 'Gambling is wide open in this city. Destiny! Here is the story of Tacoma’s character! Vice rampant in the city of Tacoma! Wide open policy rules, while decent elements hide their eyes. City a hotbed of corruption and crime. Hypocritical citizens won't listen to shocking state of affairs.'
Mayor Wright defended his administration to a Times representative: 'The city is hard up. The last administration had a couple of windfalls which we cannot expect this year. For instance, large sums were realized from the sale of property for taxes and more money was seen in dividends from defunct banks that carried city deposits. The money we get from the sporting element is badly needed. I told the people during my campaign that I favored a liberal policy. I regard the vote of the people as a mandate in favor of an open policy. We will not tolerate ground floor gambling and will not permit minors to play at the games. Whatever gambling is conducted shall be behind closed doors and it must, in no instance, be conducted in the face of the public. We do not intend to permit thieves, burglars, hold-ups and other criminals to come to Tacoma. To that end we intend to co-operate with the Seattle police department.'
“The money we get from the sporting element is badly needed.”
Mayor Wright’s 1904 justification for permitting vice to supplement a shrinking city budget mirrors modern debates about ‘sin taxes’ and the fiscal reliance of municipalities on revenue from gambling or cannabis industries. It captures the perennial tug-of-war between civic ‘cleanliness’ and the harsh realities of municipal finance.
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