How local churches fought HS corruption for 50 years

From 1927 to 1967, governmental corruption and illegal casino gambling were rampant in Hot Springs. Many local churches and also the Ministerial Alliance repeatedly challenged this corruption and tried to stop it. This is the story of the efforts of a number of Hot Springs churches to restore integrity to the town.

First, just a reminder of just how bad things were for 50 years in Hot Springs. The 1930s were the worst period of public corruption in Hot Springs history. Notorious gangsters who were wanted by the FBI received local police protection. Gambling, prostitution and even violence were widespread. A 1939 investigative report by a national magazine summarized that Hot Springs was “the most wicked city” in the United States!

Until 1967, wide-open gambling casinos continued even though this clearly violated state law.

There were over 450 slot machines located in dozens of restaurants and bars all around town.

In 1964, a national magazine published an article about gambling in Hot Springs and concluded that “Civic virtue is not the first thing that leaps to mind at the mention of Hot Springs, Arkansas

… a sedately sinful little resort town.“

For five decades, the Hot Springs Ministerial Alliance, churches and members of the clergy repeatedly complained to both city and state officials about these illegal activities. In 1928, women’s’ groups from seven churches adopted a resolution disapproving of illegal gambling. These churches included Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and several other denominations. This resolution was hand-delivered by a delegation of women to the mayor and other officials. These officials refused to take any action claiming that there was no evidence of any violation of laws.

In 1934, the minister at the Park Place Baptist Church preached from the pulpit against both sales of alcohol and also the restarting of thoroughbred racing at Oaklawn. The minister received a number of threatening letters including one actual death threat. He was so alarmed that he reported the threats to the FBI.

In 1941, the local circuit judge convened a grand jury that refused to take any action to shut down the illegal casinos. In response, the Hot Springs Ministerial Alliance petitioned the governor to shut down the casinos that operated openly in downtown and at Belvedere Country Club.

In the fall of 1950, an election was held for the position of circuit judge. One candidate publicly stated that if elected he would not enforce the state anti-gambling laws. The Ministerial Alliance requested citizens to cast their vote for candidates who would publicly declare their opposition to the illegal gambling. The Ministerial Alliance (which was disbanded in the 1970s) in an open letter to voters concluded by asking that “Almighty God deliver the Hot Springs community from the chronic curse of gambling and all its ills both social and political.”

In a television interview in 1962, the Hot Springs mayor stated that “most people in Hot Springs feel casinos are necessary.” The police chief even declared that “controlled gambling is preferable to uncontrolled underground gambling operations.” The Hot Springs Baptist Pastors Conference responded by delivering a letter to the mayor expressing their strong disapproval of his statements. The letter concluded that it was obvious that the mayor and other officials knew that there was casino gambling taking place but nevertheless refused to enforce the law to stop these illegal activities.

The Hot Springs churches would finally prevail in 1964 after 50 years of continuous opposition to corruption and illegal gambling. On March 28, 1964, Gov. Faubus ordered that the casinos be shut down. The Garland County legislative delegation immediately introduced a proposed state constitutional amendment that would legalize gambling that was to be voted on in the general election. A statewide organization known as “Churches United Against Gambling” opposed this amendment. Rumors at the time suggested that this organization was generously funded by Las Vegas gambling interests who did not want competition in Arkansas. Statewide the voters defeated the pro-gambling amendment by a large margin but in Hot Springs the amendment passed by vote of over 70%.

Why were the churches and ministers unsuccessful for so many years in ridding Hot Springs of corrupt politicians? One explanation is that there was clearly widespread election fraud. Although large numbers of church members voted for honest candidates, corrupt election officials rigged the vote count so that the honest candidates who would enforce the law had no chance of being elected.