Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-07
THE INSIDE OF 1T.
A'Thriling Expose of the Lottery
Scheme.
GOV. H0VEY ALARMINGLY ILL.
A Prince Receives a Sickeninp
Threat From NihiIists.
GOV. HOVEY ALARMINGLY ILL.
A CABINET DISRUPTED BY KossUTH.
'sON A MOUNTAIN APART"
How the Louisiana State Lottery is Try.
ing Mems Souls In North Dakota.

BIsMARK. ND, March I'm the legisla-
ture yesterday Representative Stevens sent to
the clerks desk and had read private letter of
Attorney General Goodwin which has created
profound sensation in all quarters. The at
torney general is not on good terms with the
legislature, having been mathematical by the
senate for giving more advice than they asked
for on the late investigation. Besides this he
is the known opponent of the entire lottery
scheme. The letter read was dated February
z, 1880. to c. Z. johnson of Lisbon, b newspa-
per publisher, and after making some explana-
tlons and statements about appointments at
Washington he continues as follows:
Now / will give you the outline Of one Of
the m ost damnable and Infamous schemes that
ever disgraced any legislature. The scheme in
brief is to legalize the transfer and reincorpora-
ton In North Dakota Of the Louisiana state
lottery. Rumors of the scheme have been
floating around for some time past, but it has
now assumed definite shape and the patrons are
working openly for it. Some of our friends
secured copy of the bill just to look at 1t for
few minutes and had Miss Cadding take it in
shorthand. 1t is q short bill, carefully and
shrewdIy drawn, and on its face looks like a
goasend to the state. 1t proposes to be run
treasury from $4,000 to 100000 year, in
time furnishing enough revenue to run the
state government and buy the seed wheat and
supplies for the destitute in the state besides
VIII lnclose you copy and you can then see
the scheme
1t is simply astounding to see the men that
are falling into the arrangement-men whom
you or would never think of doing such a
thing. l understand the Ransom county mem
bers are favoring it at present, but Steve is
holding of for more money; he is blufing for a
cool 100000. Don't think he can command
that amount unless it gets pretty close, and
then the last man commands most any figure
There are millions in it and the Doodle is here.
lhey guarantee the stock to pay 100 cents on
the dollar every six months, and Senators who
nave influence have been promised $4,000 in
stock. They think they have nearly votes
enough, but want to be sure of two-thirds, as
they expect, of course, to have to pass it over
the governors veto.
1t was intended to introduce it yesterday. but
1t was postponed until tomorrow, when it will
go In II they feel sure on the votes They are
paying from 600. 900 to $4,000 cash down
and agree to double when the bill becomes a
law. 1t Is said by those on the inside that this
monstrous swindle antedates the state conven-
ton at Fargo; that Senator Spencer, Alexander
mckenzie, Jud Iamour, Walsh, Haggart and
few Of the leaders In the old gang had this
planned and that Harrison Allen pledged to
help carry it out. Their defeat there scotched
the snake, and now this is the last desperate
attempt to control the politics Of this new
state OF course, il successful, the Louisians
lottery would own the state and control and
dictate its political future. 1t is a scheme
worthy OF the men who are back of it: they
propose to rule or ruin the republican party.
They are using this a club over the men,
bers opposed to them, and they threaten to
allow no legislation to 60 through until the bill
passes. This is to be the hub around which
must revolve all the legislation Of the session.
THE TEMPTATION OF IT.
The financial condition of the state Ia the
10
scheme. Many Of the farmer members, while
they admit that it is OF questionable morality,
yet think the state would be justified in adopt
ing this means to make the whole people happy
and wealthy. With few exceptions they have
the press securely muzzled. 30 that no adverse
criticism will get into the papers till it is too
late. Geo. Winship has been approached with
all sorts OF seductive inducements, but without
avail They proposed to give S1O, 900 of stock
and make his paper the state paper furnish
him all the lottery printing, and some of the
prominent citizens of Grand Forks are here
kicking Winship because he is standing in the
way OF the city receiving the location of this
beneficent institution
Some Of the leading bankers of the state are in
the schemes in fact it is hard to say at this writ
ing where Its ramihcations end. 1t is the most
seductive and corrupting thing that has been
tried for many years. 1t is said the charter of
the Louisiana state lottery expires in 1892 and
the public sentiment Of that corrupt state has
reached the point that they will not allow it
to be extended and they have seized upon the
financial condition of North Dakota to aid them
in fastening its blightlng curse upon the far
fame OF this new state. The very boldness of the
scheme gives its temporary strength. A careful
canvass Is being made Of the senate and house
to secure enough pledged men who can neither
be bought, bulldozed, fettered nor cajoled into
voting to pass 1t over the governors Veto and
then wait and let the hackers of the rotten
scheme introduce it and put themselves ON
record, and then food the state with protests.
letters and kilograms to rouse the sleeping lion
OF public ointment and bury the reckless pro-
moters of this outrageous thing SO deep that
they can never again raise their heads in the
politics of the state.
We don't want to make any move now for
fear they will weaken before they are put on
record by introducing the bill, and then claim
they never intended to try and pass 1t at ali.
You can talk with Rush and Van about this, but
don't make it public until send you word
You might write it up In good shape from the
outline have given yop, filling in the sensa-
donal details, and have it ready for publication
next Friday, and if the thing reaches a head
before that time I will wire you set up
stoves'"
The letter then closes with some remarks
about county matters aud is signed George +.
Goodwin.