Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-04
THELA.STATELOTTERY
viii Be a Thing Of the Past When
the Present Charter Expires
THE PROMOTERS RENOUNGE IT
And Say They Would Not AOcep; New Chartsr
Even Though Not Dollar Of License Were
ASKED by the Sats-Ths Supreme Court
Decision Settles the Matter.
New ORLEANS, La, February a.
The following letter will explain Itself;
"NEw ORLEANS, February ,.

New ORLEANS, La, February a.
The following letter will explain itself:
"NEw ORLEANS, February ,.
ITO he People Of Louisiana;
"In the spring of 1883 | was at differ
ent times approached by a number OF
prominent Democrats OF Louisiana, who
urged upon me the propriety in the IN
terest OF finances Of the State, OF sub
hitting to the Legislature proposition
for a constitutional amendment which
would grant 10 me and my associates a
lottery privilege for twenty-five years.
in consideration OF license sufficiently
high To be OF material assistance 10 the
State.
at was urged upon me by these gem
tlemen that my associates and should
be willing TO give 10 the people OF
Louisiana an opportunity OF obtaining
proportienally as great a material oene-
fit from tho proposed charter as the
holders OF the existing charter have OBJ
tanned from the current one.
al was assured that the proposition
would meet with little II any oppoSi-
tion under such conditions, for the OPP
position to the present charter was said
to be based mainly upon the fact thai
the amount of license paid was entire
ly inadequate in the light Of the needs
OF the people 10 the prevention oil In
creased taxation, or TO the reduction OF
present taxation by providing for
schools, levees, etc.
"These suggestions prompted me TO
announce to the people OF Louisiana
that would apply for such charter and
would give the sum OF 100000 per an
nun as a license tax. Until l had an
nounced that would make such pro-
position to the State, there had been no
opposition manifested toward the con-
tinued existence Of q lottery in Louis
lana.
after had publicly submitted my
offer 10 the people and had committed
myself TO its terms, 70 my surprise some
Of the prominent men who had APP
preached me on the subject and who
had urged me 20 make such a proposi-
tlon, became opponents Of the project
and aided In organizing public hostility
against IL.
"At the solicitation OF num-
Der OF gentlemen who still favored
the proposition and whose property had
suffered from oyernows OF the Missis-
sIppi river, Increased the am0up. !.
had originally offered TO pay as
license tax for the privilege OF u new
charter to Sl,000,000.
"ThIs latter was increased still furth-
or by the legislature TO sl,2j0,OOO per
annum and In this condition the amend
ment was issued 20 be submitted To the
people by the requisite two thirds votes
OF each branch of the legislature. Then
began a crusade on the part OF those
opposed 10 the proposition inside and
outside OF the State for the purpose OF
preventing the adoption OF the revenue
amendment and making the manage
ment OF lottery a. Objectionable 70 the
people af the United States as possible.
"The fact.that sl,250,o00 per annum
license tax which was TO be paid 20 the
State OF Louisiana would be derived
from a business which would come from
other States aud foreign countries,
brought about the enactment by Con-
gress OF what Is now commonly known
as the anti-lottery postal law.
sit was charged at ll,tlmes thatltwas
nv object 20 have the amendment carried
by paid negro votes against the wishes
and desires OF the majority Of the white
people Of the State Of Louisiana, yet on
all occasions had strongly urged that
the amendment should be submitted 10
the white people at primary elections,
so they could pass upon the question
whether they wanted the amendmeRt
adopted or not, as ! had no desire TO
be connected with the proposition un-
less it received the approval OF decls-
i've majority OF the white people OF the
State.
\. "After the passage by Congress OF the
antl-lottery postal law, / was Informed
bv number OF eminent and able attor-
news whom / consulted that this law
was n violation OF the rights OF the
states and o. the freedom OF the press
and such would be, 10 their opinion, the
decision OF the Supreme Court OF the
United States.
"Realizing thoroughly, my associates
and /. that We have been incorrect 10
cur opinion Of public sentiment on this
question OF new character, and not
desiring 20 see the people OF the state
of I,ouisiana involved In strife over this
ouestion, hereby declare upon my part
and upon the part Of my associates
that we would not accept or qualify an
der the amendment even were u 70 DC
adopted by the people At the generai
election OF April next.
"As the Supreme Court OF the Uniioa
States has decided the anti-lOttery post
al law 20 be constitutional, IL Is my pur-
nose. and that Of my associate, 70 re-
sDect the law and abstain from violating
IL 10 any manner.
"Our offer was prompted as much oy
a desire 70 benefit the people OF
Loulsana as by the prospect OF proht 70
ourselves from the grant As q business
nrooosition. Ny associates and arc
Closely identified with the Interests 9i
the people Of LOUISIANA as We own moeh
property within the borders oil tn'
State.
Convinced that the granting OF an,
other lottery charter in the State wouia
he the cause Of continued agitation and
dlscontent upon the part OF pumosroI
citizens OF Louisiana FOR the enuIe
neriod for which charter might Do
Granted, we would be unwilling 70 ac-
Cont sueh a charter even though y WAS
gIyer 10 ns without the payment OF one
dnliar of license tar.