The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-04


tional Settled tho Matter, and tho
Company viii Respect itsspirit and
Close Up Busincss...Thc President
Says TO Continue It Would bo to
Conduct What Would bc u Disturb.
Ing Element In Louisiana and this
the Company Docs Not Wish. to Do.
Tho Days OF tho Great Disgrace Are
Numbered. 81
NEw ORLEANS, Feb. 3.-The following
letter will explain itself:
New ORLEANS, February s.
7Ohe People Of Louisiand:
In tho aspiring OF 1855 I was at differ
cnt times approached bya number OF
prominent Democrats OF Louisiana, who
urged upon me the propricty in the in
terest OF the finances OF tho state OF sub
hitting 10 the legislature proposition
for constitutional amendment, which.
would grant TO mo and my associates Il
lottery privilege for twenty-five years in
consideration OF Il license sufficiently
high TO be OF material assistance to the
state. s
was assured that tho proposition
would meet with little If any opposition
under such conditions for tho opposition
to the present charter was said to be
based mainly upon tho fact that the
amount Of license paid was entirely
inadequate i'll the light OF tho
needs OF the people to the pre-.
vGntlon oil increased taxation, or to
the reduction OF present taxation
by providing for schools, levecs, etc.
These suggestions prompted me to an
nouncC TO the people OF Louisiana that
! would apply for such charter and
would give the sum OF S500,G00 per an
mum as license tax. Until | had an
nounccd that would make such Il prop
osition TO the state there had been
no opposition manifested toward the
continued existence OF q lottery in
Louisiana. After ! had publicly sub.
mitted my offer to the people and had
committed myself to its terms, to my
surprise, somo OF the prominent men
who had approached mo on the subject
and who had urged me to make such d
proposition, became opponents oil the
project and aided in organizing public
hostility against it.
At the solicitation OF number OF
gentlemen who still favored the pro.
position aud whose property had suffer-
ed from overtlows OF the Mississippi
river, | increased the amount thatII had
originally offered TO pay as license tax
!or the privilege OF q new charter. to
$l.OO0,0O0.
This latter was increased still further
BY the legislature to Sl,250,000 per an
NUN, and in this condition the amend
mcnt was issued 10 be submitted to the
people by the requisite two-thins vote
OF each branch Of tho legislature.
Then began crusade on the part OF
those opposed to the proposition inside
and outside OF tho state for the purpose
preventing the adoption OF tho rev.
enue amendment and making the man
agenIent OF 4 lottery as Objectionable to
the people OF the United States as pos
sblc.
1t was charged at all times that it was
my object to have the revenue amend
Mcnt paid by negro votes against the
Wishes and desires OF the majority OF
INC white people of the state OF Louisi-
ana, vet OIL all occasions had strohglv
urged that the amendment should be
submitted to the white people at pri-
mary elections so they could pass
upon tho question whether they
wanted the amendment adopted or
not, as l had no desire to be
connected with the proposition unless
II received the approval OF 4 decisive
majority OF the white people OF tho
STATE OF Louisiana. After the passage
tDy Congress OF the anti-lottery postal
la%' was informed by number OF
eminent and able attorneys whom l
consulted that this law was violation OF
NO rights OF the state and OF the free
Gom OF the press and such would be, in
'lle'r opinion. the decision Of the
supreme court Of the United States.
Ee4Iizlns thoroughly. my associates
and |, that We have been incorrect in
our opinion OF public sentiment on this
question OF new charter, and not de-
TI'Elnsto see the people OF the state OF
l.oa!siana involved in strife over this
question, hereby declare upon my
part and upon the part OF my associates
4 gH"t VIC would not accept or qualify un-
UGt tNe amendment oven we're it to be
"4onted by the people ct the general
election o! April next. As the supreme
tGnFt .GnFt OF tho United States has decided
. .ne antl-!ottery postal law to be .consti-
'"s'oAal II Is my purpose and that OF
"ty associates to respect that law and
nGr. ',s'"',' =.
our oilcr was prompted MS much by 4
"Silre "o to benefit the opeoplo OF Louisiana
;S %s ny me prospect OF profit to ourselves
,; ;"A inc grant 0s Il business proposi-
;tyA' NY associates and l are closely
,Tieal!ied ni with the interests of the peo-
p.e Of Louisiana, as we own much prop.
cry within tho borders OF the state.
convinced that the granting OF an
SsAGF lottery charter in the stato.would
w Hc me cause of continued agitation and
W,se3Intent upon the part 5oi q
.M,uMber OF citizens Of Louisiana for
INC entire period for which 4 charter
;;aiSht be granted VIC would be, unwill.
ny w 10 accept such charter, even
.noHgh 1t was given to lis without tho
payment OF one dollar .oi liccnsestax.
1 lelSMcd) JOHN a. Nouns.