Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-10
LOUISIANA STATE LOTTERY.
Failed to Secure the Signature of the
Governor.
Gov. Nichols Makes an Eloquent Oppo-
sitiOn Plea.
He Says 1t Bodies No Good For lou
isiana."

BATON RoUUE, La, July Gov.
Nichols, this aftern Don, returned to the
house, without approval, the famous lot
terry bill In his veto message, which is
of great length, he refers to his message
at TIE opening of the session, anticipating
this legislation and urging its instant re-
lection, for various reasons then set
forth. In the present message he
says his views heretofore expressed
not only remain unchanged, but his con-
victions have deepened and strengthened
The persistent efforts which have been
made to Lrevent Louisia1a as a pauper.
unable by and through her own legiti-
mate resources to sustain and carry out the
duties of her statehood, are utterly without
foundation The state and
different parishes in this state were never
since the late war in better condition than
they are today, and are moving forward to
an era of assured prospersty.
Suddenly dark shadow of
deep disgrace is thrown across
their path and the honor of Louisiana,
maintained in the past on field and in
council by patriotism and valor and sacri-
ices of her sons, living and dead, is to be
furnished forever, her position among her
sister states to be tested, not by what she
has been, but in dust, as degenerate
partner in gambling corporation, de-
signed, organized and to be carried out
not for her good or her ad-
vancement, but as | have be-
fore said for the personal and self
jsh interests of handful of men, many of
them connected with the darkest days of
the reconstruction period | repeat it for
them, and to them we are selling out our
birthright for a mess of pottage. Who
are six unnamed men who are to join with
a seventh aud the known one to consti-
tute the new lottery company. How comes
it that we are not informed as to their
identity and enabled to know their ante
cedents and fix their records. There is a
world of meaning in that silence
In the most trifing affairs of life men
seek to know with whom they deal How
comes 1t that in matter of this import
ance the general assembly has been willing
up to now to close its eyes and move blind
ly in the dark? | call upon it to pause
before 1t takes finally that step and plunges
the state into untold trouble. Is there
nothing significant 10 the exact two
thirds vote by which this bill has passed?
| say to this gen
eral assembly in all earnestness
that should this measure be passed we
will enter upon period of strife. such as
never has been seen before in Louisiana
and, should this contemplated corporation
ever De formed upon an era of corruption
and degradation, beside which the era of
reconstruction will appear as one of honor
and happiness. And let me say to you
that should this measure be adopted anC
carried out, in my opinion, no good will
ever come of the money which we
will receive as the price of
our honor and our liberty. Extravaganza,
profig acy and corruption will as assuredly
follow the receipt as night follows day.
* | believe at
the end of twenty-five years we will not
only find the constitutional bonds out
standing to the utmost limit of the fund
ing law. but | believe there
will be an additional i'm
mense interest bearing debt, which
by that time will be acknowledged and
provided as to interest but not as to capt.
tai, and that in those 25 years a vast
amount of interest will have been paid out
unnecessarily, improperly and illegally.
In whose hands these interest bear
ing bonds will be found time will develop.
At the end of 25 years there will
be the same claim OF poverty of Louisiana
and the same claim on its behalf for
continued existence of the lottery.
Gov. Nichols concludes with a most ur-
gent protest against this assumed condi-
ton of poverty of the state, and says the
measure will continue to meet his most
determined opposition,
The bill was made special order for to-
morrow afternoon.