Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-28
WANT A MONTE CARLO
Saratoga Hotels Threaten to Close
Unless the Clubs Reopen.
THE SMALL PLACES MUST DEPART.
Swell Gambling Houses Cannot Be Meddled
With or Touched.
TIE WIND UP OLA DETERMINED FIGHT

SARATOGA SPRlNGS, July Zi.-Iuc Sreas
battle against the gamblers has been fought
and the result is that but two OF Saratoga s
many gambling resorts are open tonight
Spencer's clubhouse and the Boston game.
All the minor places are actually closed,
and the doors of the Chicago game, one OF the
leading establishments, have not as yet
been opened.
Spencer's place, the greatest of all and
one of the famous institutions of Saratoga,
was formally thrown open to the public on
Saturday evening, though the place was not
put into full running order until to-day.
The reopening of Spencer's was a great
event for Saratoga and was due to the efforts
made on his behalf by the managers
of the leading hotels, and more
especially of those three mammoth caravan
saries the Grand Union, the United States
and Congress Hall.
A strong fight had been made against the
gambling resorts, and it looked for time
as though one of Saratoga's chief attrac-
tions was to be killed, when the hotel men,
fearful of their own interests, came to the
rescue of the clubhouses.
For several years the fighting against the
gambling places has been carried on with
more or less vigor The objections were
smaller against the clubhouses than against
the petty roulette and faro games that
thrived in every side street and that bid for
the trade of the cclored walters and the
small fry generally, but incidentally the
great clubhouses were included in the gen.
eral onslaught
Lenders of the Anti-Gam bling Fight.
That the crusade should have terminated
in complete success for q time this summer
was due to the talk of Albert Spencer him
self.
Spencer has been the gambling king of
Saratoga for several years. He was in part
nership with John Morrissey and Charley
Reed, and he succeeded to the great gamb-
ling interests that made them powers When
Morrissey went into politics in New York,
be relinqulshed his Saratoga establishment
to Reed 8 Spencer, remaining silent
partner He died, and Reed, after about
five seasons shy at the public, withdrew to
interest himself in his stock tarm at Gala
tin, Tenn, leaving Spencer in sole control
Up to this summer Spencer has owned the
race track He sold out to Walbaum & Co.
for $3.50, 900.
He is personally most unpopular man.
Morrissey, when angered, would strike a
man, but he was well liked by the crowd.
Reed was one of the most daring gamblers
this country has ever known. If patron
of his place wished to flip pennies with him
for 81 600 toss he was always willing.
Spencer is not that sort of a man. He
wants "shade" the gamblers advantage
every time. If some of the players at his
faro tables have a strong run OF luck he
perches himself back of the dealer and
surveys the operati ons with a sour look.
He has a magnificent place, but he is
looked upon as close listed and unpleasant.
One of the leaders in the anti-gambling
fight here has been Mr.. Spencer Trask. the
New York broker, who owns ''Haddo, one
of the most beautiful summer homes in this
more successfully Mr.. Trask bought daily
paper, the Saratoga Union, which has been
pouring hot shot into the gamblers ranks
since he assumed control.
Objections to small Places
Up to the time that the Ives pool bill
leealized the betting on the tracks Mr.
Trask's scheme was to have the race course
removed from Union avenue, believing that
that thoroughfare from the Springs to the
lake could be made one of the most beauti-
ful drives in the world. Since the law has
sanctioned the operations on the track Mr..
Trask has devoted his attention to the
gambling resorts.
Against the small places every objection
has existed; against the larger resorts.
from the standpoint of the resident Sara
togian, none. The clubhouses have drawn
to the Springs scores of men of wealth,
who would never have come here had it
not been for them. These guests have spent
money freely at the principal hotels and
have contributed largely to the support of
the local merchants
Saratogians have ever been denied ad-
mission to the clubhouses John Morrissey
used to say that if village man should lose
500 in his place he might have to pay
81, 600 to settle the loss, and consequently
that there could be no profit in it
Pickets at the doors have carefully ex-
cluded residents of the village, who have
therefore lost nothing and gained every
thing.
The great trouble arose from combina-
tion between certain of the authorities to
compel all gamblers to pay them fixed
amount for protection, the size of the fee de-
manded varying according to the business
done.
Spencer was taxed 1000 for his race
track and club house-a comparatively in
significant sum, especially as pools have
been sold every afternoon at the race track
in violation of the law, and he has received
500 day from this source from each of six
teen bookmakers in addition to the 800
day they paid for the morning privileges.
The OfficiaIs in Trouble
Spencer thought that he had been i'm
posed upon ana ne spoke about the matter
to a number of people. The result was that
q Police Commissioner who was not in the
deal made inquiries about the matter and
asked Spencer whether the story as it had
reached him was true. Spencer took
twenty-four hours for giving his answer and
in the interval consulted his lawyer, a New
York man. He told his legal adviser that
he had paid the money in the presence of
witnesses, that he had spoken to the bank
officials when he drew it and that he had
told several other people about it Under
the circumstances he was told to admit
everything ami he did so, causing political
upheaval. The officials resigned and two of
them were indicted, tried and fined $500 |
each; the third is still under indictment.
Friends of the ex-oficials combined to |
oust Spencer, and petitions were circulated |
calling upon the present authorities to en- |
force the law by closing the gambling house.
Among those who affixed their signatures to
the document were ex-Judge Hilton and the
majority of the church people
As a consequence, the doors of all tie |
gambling houses were closed when the sum-
mer season began. Spencer usually begins
business on July 1, but he was unable to do
so this year. The rush to Saratoga is always
late, and the height OF the season extends
from the beginning of the races until their
end. To drag out the season one week longer
the scheme was devised this wear to have
five race days a week instead of six, thus
extending the 30 days during which races
can be legally run on any one track over six
weeks instead OF five.
But the hotel keepers count upon getting
q fair crowd during July, and thus far this