The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-12
honest Men SPEAK OUT.
The Anti Lottery League Of Louis
lana Violently penounce the
Blighting Curse.
"A Gamblers Syndicate, the Relic
Of the Days Of Carpet
Baggers.
It's Record Of Ruin and Debauoherv. B,i.
berry and Corruption-Its Enormous
Monthly Receipts.

BATON RoUoE, Aug. s.-The anti-lotter,
league has been in convention in this city
At a late hour last night the committee t,
formulate an address to the people of til,
United States and to memorabilia the presi
dent and congress, made the following re-
port which was adopted:
To the people Of the United States: YOU
fellow citizens of the state of Louisiana
opposed to lottery gambling and lottery
charters, assembled in convention at Bator
Rouge this 7th day Of August 1880, make
to you this appeal for aid in the struggle
they are engaged in with a powerful
gambling corporation, which sits here
among us, like giant octopus, anl
stretches its arms to the remotest ha1Nle
in the land. For your sympathy. we aNl
net, because that We have this. we know bs
the unanimous voice Of the free press OF
this country, which, untouched and un.
touchable By lottery influence. has de.
nounced, in no uncertain tones, the infamy
we are combating.
We desire brieay to state to you the facts.
In 1868 the carpet bag legislature of Louisi-
ana, at the instigation of syndicate of
gamblers. formed in New York in 1863, and
composed of John A. Morris, Ben G. Wood
c. H. Murray and others, chartered the
Louisiana Lottery company, with a capital
OF 81 100000, giving it q monopoly of draw
ing lotteries in the state for twenty five
years. This grant was obtained by bribery
and corrupt means. At that time the pub
lie regarded it with horror, and the men
connected with it were pursued with public
and private condemnation and disgrace.
For ten years it maintained itself against
constant legislative assault by similar cor.
rupt means. In 1879 the legislature re-
pealed this charter, result accomplished
by two votes in the senate. This repeal was
practically nullifed by an injunction issued
by Edward Billings. United States district
judge for Louisiana, who held in the very
teeth of the decision Of the supreme court
of the United States. rendered in the SINH
lar case of Boyd VS.. Alabama, that an i'm
moral bargain, such az this charter, was a
sacred contract protected by the constitu-
ton of the United States, and binding
upon the police power of a sovereign state.
The same legislature that repealed this
charter called constitutional convention.
This convention was attacked by the lottery
people with money, with Judge Billings'
decision, with promises to give up its mo-
nopoly, to retire from politics, and to allow
a provision to be inserted in the constitu-
ton prohibiting all lotteries after Jan. /,
the lottery company were elected to this
body. The whole convention was surround
ed by strong lobby of purchased respecta-
bility. Under these combined influences a
provision was inserted in the projected con-
stitution reinstating the repealed charter
the legislature to charter other lotteries,
providing that after Jan. l, 1895, all lot
teries should be prohibited. The provision
XaG r. blended and regarded as oompro-
and rather than defeat the whole con-
sIitution in which II was imbedded, the
,koAs kho 1>o1Sof hot; I'M
few years the evil would die beyond any
prospect of resurrection, and such was the
Mark the result. With this new lease of
life came new lease Of power and prosper
ity almost incredible. The company en-
venting every legislature elected since 1880
from granting additional charters. This
has been accomplished by the unlimited use
of money by playing upon the opposition
of good men to the application for such
charters and by their control, through the
parties of nominations to the legislature.
The market value of their stock has risen
from 435 per share in 1879 to 81, cooper share
in 1880, SO that now it has more than dou-
BILE that of the whole banking capital of
the state. They have built up the original
capital which was never subscribed, and
have accumulated an enormous surplus Of
unknown amount while declaring dividends
of 80 to 100 Ger cent per annum, and that,
too, out of only one-half of the net earn
ings, as the other half belongs to the lessees
Howard g. Morris. Definite information at
to the list of stockholders, officers, profits
and business affairs, can not be obtained
al they are kept studiously concealed from
the public.
The scheme Of their drawings has in
creased from q monthly capital of $4,000
TO monthly capital prize of $500, 900, ant
semi annual prize of $6OO, 900. The az
feRate OF the schemes of the monthly AM
se mi-annual drawings is the fabulous sun
of cog OOO nm nor annnm and the aOOreoat,