The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-21
The Big Louisiana LecCh and
how IL Sucks me Ltfe-biood OF
the Poor

bA@ pay FN-A ~ ~"
and foreseeiug what a good thiur il vas
to be, put on the screws aud male the
projectors Of the enterprise come down
handsomely. The stock Of the Concern
=, placed at l0.GO0 shares OF per value
Of 800, making the capital 81 900. 900.
The concern was put IN immediate opera
ton, and thriyed apace.
1t was not long before members Of the
legislature began to levy forced assess
meuts upon il in their individual! capa-
city. holding out the alternative Of a re-
peal of the charter. La a short time this
tax became onerous, and the lottery cons
pany went into politics as a part OF It's
business, aud selecting experienced wire
workers as its agents, and expanding its
money more freely, 1t succeeded IN elect
ing sufficient members Of the legislature to
give 1t the balance OF power IA that body.
The members COMMITTEE - Its interest,
Of course, entaIled expense after their
election as well as before, but there was
always a perfect understanding IN this re
| spect, which was much more satisfactory,
this continued until 1877, when, after a
protracted struggle, the democrats OBJ
tanned control OF the state government.
they were materially assisted by the lot-
terry company, whose principal managers
naturally sympathlZed with them, and
who had also become wearied of the heavy
expense Of "kccling in with the carpet
bag legislature. Money provided by the
lottery company was the direct means OF
securing the secession OF enough mem
bers of the carpet bag legislature about
| whose election there was 10 dispute to
make a quorum Of duly elected members
in the democratic legislature. The demo
Gratis, when they were firmly fixed III
power, Immediately set to work with the
| deliberate purpose to destroy this incu-
bus upon society and good morals. Bills
! Of repCai were brought IN the Legislature
one alter another, and despite the efforts
Of the company a bill iCr the complete
repeal of II. charter was passed and sign
ed by the governor. Then cnsued a Won
dertul political movement, which, lncredl
bic as ii would seem, eVentuated IL a
Uiunphal success.
The lottery Goiap any defed the act OF
| the legislature, ana sccarlng d temporary
| Injunction from the United States court
| determined to nave Its status hXe1 III the
organic law OF The state, secure from ali
| danger Of legislative interference. 10 do
| this ii vas necessary TO call I. constitution
a! convention, and the company went 20
work and accomplished It's object. LII
constitutional convention was called AMI
! orgsuiZei strictly Ia accordance with the
views and wishes OF the company, and III
the He6 constitution which Was framed
is "a JIOucsad Provision which guarantees
| intact It's charter until 1884 NO one
knows how much money It cost to DO tins
ching, and few can have any idea OF the
remarkable skill aud management rcquir
ed to secure the necessary political com
binalIOns, first TO call the convention,
next to organize 1t, and lastly 10 secure
the adoption OF Its work BIZ the popular
voLe. Since 1879, the date OF the ad0p-
ton Of the new constitution, 1t seems 10
have been satisfied with seeing that the
legislature contains no members who will
make an especial point Of opposing Its
interest.
With the uuche cked career opened 50
it It's business has grown to mammoth
proportions, and there are few stock con-
Germs in the country which pay heavier
dividends OF shareholders. Fifty per
cent, Is the regular annual dividends, and
The shares, which are seldom offered Tor
sale, readily brings $3.50, or more. The
stockholders do not number more than
50 in all, and most of these are original
investors. including wealthy bankers and
capitalists here aad some prominent New
Workers. A highly respected citizens Of
Baltimore nuts away on.e $4,000 pr
annum, realized from the shares he'd by
him. Some OF the Louisiana legislators
picked up shares when they were much
cheaper and easier to get at than at pres
ent, but with th" exception OF Mr.. Pinch
back, whose til. If Is proverbial, not enc
was able 10 keep them Pinchback holds
100 shares. paving him S. 0J0 per annum
aud uo8G which he vii manage to exist
aheu President Cleveland puts another
IL his place Is surveyor Of the port OF
NeS o. cans
There 81. a daily lottery drawing 10 the
city OF New Orleans, the tickets ~ which
are as a matter ct course only held oV 10
cal holders, aud any no der ct a ticket
has a right to be present and witness the
drawing. Inc tickets tor these drawings
are suspended m rows IN the wlndo"o OF
hundreds OF stores and shops from one
end OF the city to the other, and all those
who act as agents here and elsewhere re-
celye 10 per cent. commission. The only
charge maze by the state Tor the conee>-
sion of the lottery franchise is $4,000 pei
annum. The profits Of the daily drawings
are large, Of course, but the rich pIac r Is
in the moDtaIy drawings which take
place about the middle Of each moath
under the personal supervision OF Gen
Beauregard and Cen. Early. For this
service, which occupies three or foul
hours on II day in each IN nth. these
IItinguisIed generals receive $1,000
per anuun each, and Gen. FAIRY IN addi
ton tas his expenses paid i0r tie lourEeJ
from his home at L~ynchburg to New Or
leans and return. The daily drawing
take place in a room in the company
building, but the monthly Ira a t
held in The academy OF music