Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-03

QcuL WHICH OCCuIIHu III luc Gdtls phi VI
last week. He was driving near his coun-
try seat, at DObb's Ferry, New York, and
his team ran away and threw him out of
his carriage. His injuries We're not very
severe, but his physical condition was
such that the shock 10 his nervous system
was sufficient to cause death three or four
days after the accident. No man who
ever lived in Louisiana exercised so much
power in the politics of that State as
Charles T. Howard. He did not work
/ openly. He worked behind the scenes and
with money. The Louisiana Lottery
| Company, since its organization, has had
grip on the State of Louisiana that
would be difficult to loosen even if the
desire to loosen it were much stronger
than it apparently is.
1t IS not believed that Charles II. How
ards power in politics was confined to
Louisiana. There is no doubt that he at
tempted to secure certain rulings for his
company at Washington, and that he
sought to prevent proposed legislation by
/ Congress. 1t has been said that he did
not wholly fail in his efforts at the ma
tional capital
Little seems to be known about his
early history, He was born at Philadel-
/ phia in 1880, and made his appearance at
New Orleans Immediately after the close
of the war as the agent of Kentucky lot
| terry concerns. He was quick to see what
splendid field New Orleans offered for a
lottery business, and he also understood
that it would not be difficult to get char
ter for a lottery institution from the cor
rupt legislators who then ruled the State.
A company was formed with a capital
of $l,O00,000, and all the stock was dis
tributed among the membe of the Legis-
lature. The charter was readily obtained
and business was at once begun without
any capital whatever. Those who were
the principals in the enterprise in the be-
ginning were the owners of the Kentucky
lotteries, for which Howard had been
agent. Howard, however, got the charter
in his own name and refused to allow the
Kentucky parties to sharein it's benefits.
He took such men into partnership with
with him as he desired.
The company paid from the start, and
Howard and his immediate ASSOCIATES
bought up the greater part OF the stock
before it became very valuable. He and
his immediate associates took 80 per cent.
of the profits, and 80 per cent. was divided
among the stockholders. 1t is stated that
the profits have reached in single year
as much as $2,000,0O0. They are certainly
very great.
In 1879, when the present constitution of
Louisiana was framed, vigorous effort
was made to declare ali lotteries illegal.
The effort failed. Howard succeeded IN
having his lottery recognized, and it is
now advertised as the only lottery COM
pany in the country that is authorized by
law. Since 1879 the company has con-
trolled the Legislature OF Louisiana
almost as completely as it did before that
/ date.
Howard was not popular IN New Or
/ leans, although he gave away more money
/ in charity than any other man. He
aided every sort Of enterprise that sought
| his help, but whether or not he was liberal
to advertise his lottery or from other mo-
tives no one, Of course, is able to say
! 1t is a remarkable fact that while his
| principal associate in the management of
the company was received in the best
circles in New Orleans and New York,
Howard was given the cold shoulder in
| both cities. There may have been other
causes than his connection with the lot
/ terry for his lack of social success. His
failure to get into New Orleans clubs re-
suited in showing something of his char
acter. Early in his New Orleans career
he applied for membership in the Metairie
Ridge Jockey Club Association. He was
blackballed. He declared that he would
make a graveyard out of the Metairie
Ridge course. He constructed much
finer race course and the Metairie Ridge
Club went into bankruptcy. Howard
purchased the clubs property and put his
threat into execution. The Metairie
Ridge Cemetery is the finest in the city,
and is very profitable piece Of property.
The Varieties Club, which owned the
magnificent Varieties Theatre. was
another institution of which he
desired TO become member.
His application for membership was
refused. The theatre property was
heavily encountered, and Howard man.
aged to become the owner OF a controlling
interest in it. He gave the members of
the club the choice of making him a men,
Der or of getting out Of the building. They
made him a member.
Howard was the leading spirit in the
lottery company. His word was law.
The President was only a figure head. OF
course Towards death will not interfere
with the company's business. His shrewd
management may be missed, but the
property is too valuable to permit it to he
neglected. There is no doubt that the
business has always been honestly con-
Quoted so far as the public is concerned.
A little study OF the scheme, however.
shows that there is no occasion for dis
honesty-the percentage in favor Of the
company is sufficiently large to afford
enormous profits.
1t is contended that the fast European
l..