The Last Raffle in Coulee City
A local contest for a new automobile concludes just as the law cracks down on gambling.
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 automobile drawing on which so many of our citizens counted to enable them to get into the automobile class was pulled off last Sunday. The prize was won by a man, who had only invested in one chance, while a great many others had bought chances rather recklessly. This is the last raffle that can be held on account of the law that prohibits that form of amusement. This raffle was under way when the law went into effect and was carried on under special permit. The name of the lucky individual is J. A. Welch, who arrived here this morning to take charge of the prize.
“This is the last raffle that can be held on account of the law that prohibits that form of amusement.”
Public raffles and lotteries were once a common way to raise community funds or promote business, but were increasingly curtailed by Progressive-era laws. Today, this kind of 'get into the automobile class' promotional gambling has been replaced by the structured, state-regulated lotteries that support civic infrastructure.
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