The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-17
THE AMERICAN CRAZE,
just Now 1t Is EXenpIified in the
Several Games of Chance.
The North Takes 20 Stocks and Grain. While
the South Holds to Its Beloved
Louisiana State Lottery.
Ero,n the Chicago Times, Julv 9Th


II was old General Jubal Early, of LynChhurg.
Va, and the Louisiana lottery.
Although not a resident Of the CITY General Early
d perhaps as well known figure here as he is in
EFnchburg, for he comes here every month to su-
pertntend the drawings of the state lottery and so
d. he crosses the sunny street with two little cotton
bags carried in one hand behind the bent back
every one In sight stops to look at him. People
crane their necks out of street car windows TO GET
glimpse of him; opkeepers leave their counters
70 gaze at the bent figure, confederate Father
Time picking his way across the cobblestones The
old gentleman makes straight for the Academy of
Music, which is on the opposite side of the street
fsom the building he has just left-the office of the
Louisiana state lottery.
party of US had been sitting in the Commercial
club the night before discussing everything from
politics down or UP, to Creole cuisine, when the
conversation turned upon the lottery and the pas
sion of the Latin races Tor the games of chance A
young man from Iowa remarked that in Louisiana
OF least the lottery seemed to have a legitimate
business status that it was recognized factor in
she commercial world.
sand why not?' broke in Colonel Dan Wilson,
twisting his huge bulk about to more comforts ble
position in lis iavorte easy chair "The lottery
has been recognized by the state government Tor a
quarter of Il century, and its contributions to tho
school and general fund of the state have been such
that the latter could not very we'll maintain certain
necessary institutions without its aid The propre-
S)rS simply turned the publios inherent passion for
chance TO the account of the state and Themselves
guaranteeing the people against fraud by conduct
Pfncipies. 1here IS no room tor senti-
melt in this matter. The passion | have
spoken OF ex ts s.. eyerywhere, and the
gay protected the people from actual fraud Pre-
vious to this the public had been swnded out of
millions OF dollars by irresponsible people who CON
Quoted lotteries in an underhand and fraudulent
way, and who often decamped with the cash with
out even turning the wheel 1t is not strange then
that a responsible body of men should organze an
institution which should stand between the people
and the scamps who would cheat them, and it is
s.1 less strange that the state, having the interest
OF The people at heart to Say nothing Of substantial
actualities, received annually, should not only.
authorize but foster an institution of this kind.
The al under which the lottery was incorporated
Is ar Interesting one as showing under what cir
eumsances the lottery came into existence. Here
john, bring me the statutes, that big sheep-skin
book, and when the negro had brought the law
book the colonel opened it and read;
Article l. The name and title of this corporation
shall he the Louisiana State Lottery company. and
the domicile thereof shall be in the city Of New
Orleans, state OF Louisiana. :.
don are: '1f0-"
l. The protection of the state against the great
losses heretofore incurred by sending large amounts
of money 10 foreign countries for the purchase of
lottery tickets aud devices thereby impoyerlshing
our own people
2. To establish solvent and reliable home insti-
tuition for the sale OF lottery, policy and oombina-
ton tickets devices and certificates fractional parts
thereof at terms and prices IN just proportion the
prizes drawn and to insure perfect fairness and JUS
hce in the distribution of such prizes.
8. To provide means to raise fund for education
oil and charitable purposes for the citizens of Lousi
ana.
Art 8. The capital stock of this corporation shall
800 each N-'-'''' y '~ '--' '-'"'e' "a
There were provisions for board of directors
composed of seven stockholders and the corpora
ton was given all the corporate rights TO and
be sued, etc. The duration Of its existence was
fixed at twenty-five years. In consideration of the
privileges thus granted and guaranteed, the eompa
ny on its part agreed to the following:
Art S. Sec. !. The corporation shall pay to the
state of Louisiana the sum of $4,000 per annurn
OaVlDle aroh
from and after the 1st OF January, 1862 to the state
auditor who shall deposit the same in the traas,1Tv
OF the state, and which shall be credited to the
educational fund; and said corporation shall be e-
smpt from all other taxes and licenses of any kind
authorities
Sec. q The corporation shall furnish bonds to the
auditor i'll the of $50 600 security for prompt
and punctual payment OF the sums set forth in the
preceding section
aud 50 on, and so on" continued the colonel.
THE election of officers is provided for, and the
company is given the sole right to maintain lot
terry III the state of Louisiana for twenty-five years
from January, 1869. About eleven years ago
however, the new state institution was adopted
BY this the monopoly privileges of the company
were abrogated and the business thrown open,
provided each charter of privileges shall pay not
less than $4,000 per annum of money into the
treasury OF the state; and provided further that all
charters shall cease and expire on the first day of
january, 1885, from which time all lotteries are pro-
hibited in the state.
be paid by the Louisiana State Lottery company
according to the provisions of its charter, granted
In the year 1868, shall belong to the charity hospital
of New Orleans, and the charter OF said company Is
recognized contract binding the state for the
period therein specified except its monopoly clause,
which is hereby abrogaed; and all laws contrary to
the provisions of this article hereby declared
null and void, provided said company shall file
written renuncaton Of all Its monopoly features in
the Office of the secretary of state within sixty days
after the ratification of this constitution.
"Of the additional sum raised by licenses on lot
teries the hospital at Shreveport shall receive So.
600 annually and the remaining, sum shall be
divided each year among the several parishes in the
state for the benefit of their schools
80, sir, you see why the Louisiana state lottery
is recognized factor in Louisiana commerce, and
If you can go anywhere on earth and find set of
men whose commercial standing III the community
In which they live is any better than that OF the
lottery directors you are welcome to their acquaint
ance, and are to be congratulated"
1t was proposed that we visit the drawing of the
day following, and Colonel Wilson extended an
invitation to SIT with tie commissioners on the stage
and observe at close range the manner in which the
drawing was done. There would be an additional
interest he said, from the fact that IL grand
drawing, with the capital prize Of 100000 in the
wheel. This is the way nat came to ne crossing
St. Charles street Just as old Jubal Early hobbled
along with the two cotton bags in his hand. One Of
these sacks contained the $50 prlZes-that is, the
tickets with the amount printed thereon; the other
contained the tickets the numbers OF which
drew the prizes at the last monthly drawing. Both
these bags were iled a month ago, the necks tied
with cord and bound with slips OF paper, on the in
side folds of which are the autographs OF Generals
Early and Beauregard, and sealed with wax ana
stamped with a private sgnet. They have re-
manned locked in private vault in the lottery OF
once more and carried them across the street.
Every one in New Orleans buys lottery tickets
The sale is not confined as some people imagine to
the low or the ignorant, butts common to classes
Portions of The same ticket are often held by ner-
chants III the north and the poor whites" of Mis-.
sisspp by the most conservative creole families OF
old New Orleans and by the yo0doO negroes OF up
per St. Louis street. The company has us agents IN
every town in the country; Mexico Is dotted with
them. You can find the tickets on sale in Europe;
you can buy them in Alexandria and in Yokohama
But at New orleans is the headquarters OF the
whole scheme IN every cigar store and liquor
store in every grocery and drug store you cln buy
the little green purple tickets as easily as you can
purchase cigarette glass OF claret, a pound OF
sugar, or qunue pill. At hundreds OF points about
the city you can see fixed to walls ana
telegram poles little pine showcases con
tanning the alluring tickets strung on wires
and offered for sale. There are men WHO do moth
ing else but sell he chances and you can see their
signs, Lucky Chance store" Lucky Number
Agency. etc, enticing people to try their luck in
the lottery Each agent keeps account OF the prizes
drawn on tickets sold by him ana Isis Of snch
numbers and prizes are seen, shown outside me
window. as an advertisement ana an lhaueeIheut
to buy at that particular place. The day before me
drawing the tickets are hawked about the streets
by peddIers who call out: - Here's your lottery
tickets Drawing tomorrow"
People invest in the lottery as a matter 81 lact'
For t,yentv-nine and ouehaf days hey I'VE IN nope
exhilarating, buoyau hope. For hait day they
are somewhat disapponted-but, paA what laFe
they lost2 only dollar generally, ana they y! II