St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-09
TO END POOL SELLING
Horizons Bill Recommended
for Passages in Com NIT
tee OF the Whole.
Hard Fight Made to Exempt
Racing by Minnesota AS
sociationS,
But an Amendment Goes
Through That Bars
Everybody.
Some InsinuationS Of the
Ramsey Member Holly
Resented.


Resented.
At this time it seems reasonably safe
to say that so far as the house of repre-
sentatives of Minnesota is concerned
there will be bill passed TO prohibit
pool selling and betting on horses, even
at the state fair grounds during the run
ming meeting. This assertion is based
on the expressions of members during
a two-hour debate yesterday afternoon.
When the house reached the bill on
general orders known as II. f. 63 there
was general anticipation that fight
was on. Mr.. Wyman. of Hennepn, was
in the chair, Speaker Lee had planted
himself in the Minneapolis mans chair.
and nearly every member was i'll his
seat.
When the bill had been read, Mr..
W wilson, of Goodhue, moved to strike
out the words. "Provid9d, however.
that the provisions Of this act shall not
apply to the actual Enclosure Of any fair
or race track associations that are in
cOrporated under the laws Of this state
during the actual time OF the meetings
of said associations, or within twenty
four hours before any such meetings"
Mr.. Horton was on his feet at once to
explain and defend his bill. lie deliv-
cred an earnest and exhaustive argu-
ment for the passage of the measure.
While made without notes, the speech
Of the Seventh ward member Overed
the ground very thor0ug lly. He made
one mistake, however. In his earnest
ness he allowed himself to be carried
away momentarily. and made some
pretty broad nsinuations as 10 the mo-
tives inspiring the opposition to the.
measure.
Painted In Dark COiOrs.
In his remarks Mr.. Horton depicted
in strong language the evils resulting
from pool selling Like the sewers that
are hidden from sight and bear away
the filth of city, SAID he, these dens of
iniquity are unknown to the general
public in their true coiOrS. The crime
traceable to their malign influence Is of
the most destructive character, yet so
often smOthered by those directly affect
ed that citizens do not.feel the shock of
the exposure. These pool rooms are a
curse to any community. They are
places whose proprietor5 clear from
forty to one hundred thousand dollars
profit in every twelve months. while
many hundreds Of men and boys go to
beggary and ruin through the oppor-
tunities they afford for indulging a bad
passion.
The speaker reviewed the desperate
| fight made by the Chicago pool room
and race track pr0prietorS against such
a law. and he said he was prepared to
witness the same tactics in Minnesota.
| He could fathon, he said, the moves 1t
was intended TO make to delay or de-
feat the measure. but he felt confident
the bill was sound and constitutional as
| it stood. The same law had driven the
| Chicago gamblers into Indiana, and now
| the people OF the latter state were clam
| Oring for the enactment of a law that
would prevent the Chicago scavengerS
from dumping their foul brood Oh In
diana soil IF other gentlemen desire
TO introduce bills to abolish betting, let
them do So" said Mr.. Horton, ''Dut L do
not believe amendments to this bill will
be offered in good faith. | believe they
are Intended to prevent its passage"
Wilson Comes Back Hard.
Mr.. Wilson. of Goodhue, followed in
hot defense of his amendment and his
motive in Offering it. He held that
| without tie amendment the bill would
be a misnomer. 1t should be called All
act to legalize gambling at the state fair
| grounds. If it is wrong to gamble in
rooms, in the streets, in alleys and
| dark places, it is surely wrong TO gam
BILE at the state fair. where people from
| all over the state cOngrgegate for pleas
ure and profit. He, as lover of sport,
had visited The state fair grounds to see
great animals contest. He had there
seen high officials of the state Of
ficiatng as starters, while right
under their noses the law against
gambling was being fiagrantly violated.
For himself. lie was opposed to gam
bling in every form at any place, and he
maintained that the pending measure
was immoral while it contained the eX-
ception which he desired to eliminate.
He resented the insinuatiOns Of bad
motives III closing, and remarked sar-
castically that he was willing his mo-
tives should be impugnsd by any one
who wished to do SO.
Mr.. Hopkins spoke in opposition to
the amendment, holding that as the bill
was favored by majority of the dele
gates from the Twin Cities they should
be allowed to pass it in it's original form.
He considered 1T a long step in the right
direction.
More Roast Cor Horton.
Mr.. Greer made strong speech along
the same lines as Mr.. Wilson, at the
same time warmly resenting the asper-
sions cast on the latter gentleman. He
said the personalities INDUCED in by
some of the gentlemen from Ramsey on
a former occasion had perpieXed bis
mind regarding the bill under discus
sion. The gentleman from Ramsey who
had opened this debate had thrown out
a challenge defying any man to oppose
the bill on pain of having his good faith
questioned. He believed every man
should be allowed to exercise his judg-
ment freely and without reference to
threats. While knowing nothing of
pool rooms, he detested the vice of
gambling, and thought it should be pro-
hibted everywhere. -
Mr. Turreli hoped the amendment
would not prevail, as in his Judgment
the bill could not be passed with the
amendment added.
Mr.. Young took ground in favor of
Wilson's amendment, and he dehed the
member from Ramsey to impugn his
motives. He also took issue with the
gentleman'S statement that the bill
would be constitutional, as Minnesotas
constitution is at present in badly
mixed condition. He did not want re-
form in spots; he did not want to pun
ish gambler on 25 cents capital, while
the rich CANISTER was allowed to go free;s
and finally he did not desire to again
hear threats uttered against any man
for his action as member of the house.
Mr.. Fletcher SAID that, as all the men
who had spoken were in favor of the
principle of the bill, they should be able
to agree on sOme-measure. He main
tanned the Horton bill was constitu-
tional, and. if it was passed. he would
then vote for any other bill to complete
the work. He was opposed to the
amendment.
Uncle Charlie" McEwen gravely
arose and warned the lawyers who were
TRADING against the gamblers that they
might SOralv offend the wheat pamhlerS