Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-08
AGAINST THE LOTTERY.
The Baton Rouge Convention States the
Case to the People.

BATON RoUGE, La, August Sat late hour
last night the committee to formulate an ad-
dress to the people of the United States and to
memorallze the President and Congress, made
the following report, which was adopted:
10 the people of the United States:
Your felow-citizens OF the state of Louisiana
opposed to lottery gambling and lottery char
tiers assembled in convention at Baton Rouge
this 9TH day of August. 1880, make TO YOU this
appeal for aid in the struggle they are en-
gagged IN with powerful gambling corporation
which slts here among us, like giant octopus.
and stretches its arms TO the remotest hamlet in
the land. For your sympathy they ask not, be-
cause that they have this well they know by the
unanimous voice of the Tree press of this coun-
try. which, untouched and untouchable by lot
terry influence, has denounced, in no uncertain
tones, the lnfamy we are combating. We de-
sire briefly to state to you the facts In 1868
the carpet-bag legislature of Louisiana. at
me ihstlgalon OF syndicate of gam
isss I,sss edmpSsaa dDPmsa 1 % "SD ESw York. in
Ben. {. Wood. c. II. Murray and Others char
tered the Louisiana Lottery Company with a
capital OF 1000, giving it a monopoly of
drawing lotteries in the state for twenty-five
years. This grant was obtained by bribery and
corrupt means. At that time the public re-
garded 1t with horror, and the men connected
with 1t were pursued with public and private
condemnation and disgrace. For ten wears il
maintained itself against constant legislative
assault by similar corrupt means In 1879 the
legislature repealed this charter, a result ac-
coinpllshed by majority of only two votes IN
the senate. This repeal was practically nulli-
fled by an injunction issued by Edward C.
DllIInSs United States district judge for LOUIS
lana. who held in the very teeth of the decision
OF the supreme Court of the United States
rendered IN the similar case of Boyd versus
Alabama that
AN IMMORAL BARGAIN
such as this charter was a sacred contract pro-
tected by the Constitution of the Tn tied States
and binding upon the police power of a sover-
eign state. The same legislature that repealed
this charter called constitutional convention
TINS convention was attacked by the lottery
people with money with Judge Billings de-
cision with promises to give up its monopoly
to retire from politics and TO allow provision
to be Inserted in the constitution prohibiting
all lotteries after January i, 1895.
Severa! distinguished attorneys of the latter
COMPANY were elected to this body. The whole
convention was surrounded with strong lobby
of purchased respectability. Under these COM
bined influences provision was inserted in
the projected constitution reinstating the re-
pealed charter without the monopoly feature,
permitting the legislature to charter other lot,
teries, providing tina after January l. 1895. all
lotteries should be prohibited. This provision
was intended and regarded as a COMPROMISE
and rather than defeat the whole constitution
in which 1t was imbedded the people adopted
it with the belief that in a few years the evil
would die beyond any prospect of resurrection,
and such was the pledge of the lottery COM
pony. Mark the result With this new lease
OF life came lease of DO +. er
and prosperity incredible. They have
practica ly enjoyed their renounced
monopoly by preventing 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
ownership of certain dominant politicians Of
both political parties. of nominations to the
legislature. The market value of their stock
has risen from $50 per share in 1879 to 81, 200
per share in 1890; that now 1t is more than
double that Of the whole banking capital of the
state. They have built up the original capital.
which was never subscribed and have accu,
mrlated an enormous surplus of unknown
amount, while declaring dividends of 80 to 100
per cent per annum, and that too, out
of only one-halT of the net earn
ings, the other half belongs TO
the lessees. Howard and Morris. Definite in
formation to their list of stockholders |
officers, profits and business affairs can not be
obtained as they are kept studiously concealed |
from the public. The scheme Of their dealings |
has increased from monthly capital prize |
OF $50, 600 to a monthly capital prize Of $780, |
The aggregate Of the schemes of the monthly |
and semi-snnual draw wings is the fabulous sum |
OF SlS. .000, 600 per annum and the aggregate of /
their daily drawings is over go, ,000, 900 more |
They receive annually q million and a |
quarter from the written policies sold |
on the numbers of the daily drawing |
apart from the sale Of the regular |
printed tickets. They receive annually about |
S22 0O0, 600 from their monthly and semi-annual |
The schemes of the last drawings |
are so arranged that they can sell seventy-ive |
per cent of their tickets, pay 10 per cent for /
selling them, lose all the prizes provided for |
in the schemes, pay q million dollars for |
expenses and still make $1,000, 600 profit per |
annum. We make no idle assertion when we /
denounce these schemes Is fraudulent Even /
from lottery standpoint this company offers /
to distribute less than So per cent in prizes.
No authorized lottery on earth that We know /
Of outside of Mexico 10 allowed to distribute /
less than 70 per cent.
Caught.
PuEBLo, Col, August 6.-Sheriff Dick cap- /
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