The Jersey City news., 1892-02-16
Race TRACK PROTESTS.
Hearing Before the Legis-
lative Committee at
Trenton Today.
EMINENT SPEAKERS HEARD
Bishop Scarborough, Mrs. Knowles,
Mrs. Williamson and the Rev.
DR.. Scudder Among Them.


TRENTON, Feb. 16. 1s92.-The entire
neighborhood OF the Capitol this morning G
assumed the general air of gigantic
picnic. The railroads ran special trains
at special cut rates this morning, osten-
sibly to allow the moral and religious
element of the State to visit the Legisla-
tnre, and protest against the race track
bill. the crowd was largely clerical
one. but more than half of it was COM
posed of women whose natural instincts
for bargains could not Withstand the
temptation of the reduced rates. MANY OF
the visitors wore white badges
bearing in letters of various colors the
societies from which they came. The
delegates swarmed into and about the
Assembly and Senate chamber overran
the Executive department, and even in
vaded, by way of the elevators, the
sanctty Of Col. Morry Hamilton's abode
in the new library on the top floor.
They came from here, there and every
where. If any town failed to send dele
gates it was because it was so far OIL the
line of com munication that the railroad
managers didn't consider it worth while
to put tickets OF their bargain counters.
WHERE THEY COME FROM.
The Camden Law and Order Society
came in body, small but substantial, in
the nine o'clock train from that city.
Its special objection is the Gloucester
track, but 1t will fight the bill on general
principles.
Another delegation halls from Pater-
son whose memories in the racetrack line
were principally derived from Clifton.
Dean McNul:y Is one OF the delegates.
He represents the State Citizens League
of New Jersey. This delegation brought
with it several numerously signed re-
monstrances.
WILL BOOM THE BILL.
On the other hand there is a big delega'
tion here from Monmouth county to urge
the passage Of the bill. 1t represents the
business men of Long Branch, Eatonville
and Red Bank who believe that the re-
opening of the Monmouth will be boom
to business in that part of the State. AT
all events they say that they have practi-
cal proof that the closing of the track
mas proved serious injury to the busl'
ness of the towns named.
THE HEARING.
The House adjourned promptly at noon
and the Speaker announced that the com
mittee would at once hear the arguments
for and against the race bills. Immedi.
ately flood of white-necktied aud
solemn-visaged men Of all ages swept
the aisles, the spaces between the
desks, and every other space where il
was possible for man to stand. They
were wedged SO tightly that it was al
most impossible for person to change
his position or get in or out OF the cham
bers. The women crowded the galleries
in the same way and crushed hats and
torn cloaks were abundant.
". Lindabury, of Elizabeth, was the
fret sneaker. He began by reading
resolution passed by the clever
o'clock meeting, which, he
said, represented 100000 people o.
the State. The resolutions called the bill
the most monstrous and vicious ever of
fered, and the Speaker said it was an in
sult to the moral people of the State. Il
would make each county the participant,
in the receipts of the oebauchery and cor
ruption of its youth and young men.
Bishop Scarborough, Episcopal BishoI
of South Jersey, next spoke. He dwell
upon the Significance of the great out
pouring Of the people. and said that suct
a demonstration ought not be necessary
nounced the idea of making the State {
partner in the receipt of blood money
He said that the same public
opinion which had put down the
lottery in New Jersey will put down rae.
ing in New Jersey. II the Legislature
persisted in passing these laws there
would be such an uprising in this State
as had not been seen since the days of the
rebellion. This was received with cheers
which could be heard over among the
hills of Pennsylvania.
Ex-Judge Lanning, of Trenton, was The
next speaker.
FOR WIVES AND MOTHERS.
Mrs. S, 4. Knowles, wife of the Rev
Mr.. Knowles, of Newark, who said she
of hn Sfof fn
was next introduced. She is the lady
who led the delegation against the bills
last year. She spoke for wive:
and mothers, she said, and al
thongh her inclination and tha
of every other woman who was presen
was to remain at home and not appear IL
such public place, this was one OF the
times wnen women must stana nelore tht
public and speak in the interests of the
truth. She made touching appeal fol-
Ihe home. and at its close was given three
rousing cheers.
Mrs. B. Williamson, Jr., of the State
Charity Society, told how the race tracks
tended to increase pauperlsm and crime.
The Rev. DR.. Duryea of Rutgers College
said that the true women Oh New Jersey
not the women of Gutenberg and Glou
cester. had been heard from, and now he
appealed for the youth of the land.
DIR. Scudder, the next speaker, was re
ceiyed with cheers. He said he repre-
sented 100. 900 people of Hudson county
who protested against the bill.
AT THE MORNING SESSION.
At eleven O'CLOCK the new museum
room ON the third floor was placed at the
disposal of the race track professors, but
IL only held small fraction of them.
Those who.participated had to stand. r.
v. Iindabury of Elizabeth, presided, and
Editor Charles Mcbride of Elizabeth, as
Secretary of the State Citizens League,
acted as Secretary of the meeting.
Plainfield sent 60 delegates with
Chairman Craig Marsh; Newark III, DR..
Coils Martin; Camden 75, speakers, ex
Judge Pancoast and S. H. Grey; Pater-
son Is, Dean McNulty; Passaic and Cllf.
ton, Is; Morristown %, Colonel E. Dob
bins; Middlesex county, so; Rutgers Col.
lege Delegation, with the Rev. DIR. Dur
YEA as speaker; Burt Pennington Sem
inory, DIR. j. Hanlon; Monmouth $50, j.
A. Lanning; Trenton 200, with Judge
Lanuing and Bishop Scarborough rs
speakers.
Some suggested roll call of counties
and this was done under more or less en-
barrassment wnich was good naturedly
overcome.
All the delegates were not able to get
in The room ana some guessing bad To
times afraid that the guessing
was trifie loose, and some one would
veil out, "Tell the truth, brother" The
roll call showed that Elizabeth sent down
200 people, and President Lindabury was
selected as chairman and speaker for the
this qta0a Mr. Ford Smith. chairman