The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-31
A BODY BLOW.
Rousing Meeting at EImwood Temple
in Protest 10 Pool Selling.

bioW iu1t CNculuk, WncI ihfkc uuu ICpio-
sentative audience filed Elmwood Tenn
pie to listen to addresses protesting
against the continuance OF the
law permitting pool selling in Rhode
Island.
1t was rousing meeting and
boded destruction TO the pool selling
statute, the terse address by Hon. Rath-
bone Gardner carrying strong conviction
into the heart OF every person present.
The pastor, Rev. 8. j. Fleming, followed
with an earnest appeal and resolutions
were adopted.
Ii was hoped that Mayor Olney could
preside, but no was unavoidably detained
away. His Honor put himself on record,
however, and sent sympathetic letter to
be read to the assem- blage, as follows:
City Of Providence, Executive Department
City Hall Dec. rs, 1894.
Mr.. George McAuslau, 2I6 Lexington avenue:
DEAR siR-I regret very much that contingen-
cies have arisen which will prevent my being
present with you next sunday evening, and
presiding at the meeting TO be held at that time Tor
the purpose of agiating the repeal OF the law per-
mittingpool selling and gambling in certain sec
lions Of our state.
IL roths ps unnecessary for me 10 state that
am in heary sympathy with the object OF the
meeting, and will do ali in my power TO further the
accomplishment OF the desired result
Permit me 10 point out the fact that the mischief
is wrought entirely by section Of the passed
by the Legislature at Its last January session for
the restraining of gambling and oil selling.
The act referre 10 is Chapter 1859 OF the Public
Laws, passed May Is, ISs4 and the section mem
toned is section OF said act This said section
pei mits what the preceding section forbids. With
taid section stricken from the act the State Of
Rhode Island would have upon IL. statute book ne
OF the strongest laws for the prevention and pun
ishmsnt OF gambling and pool ceiling that IL is pos
sib c 10 frame.
Thanking you for the honor OF your invitation.
and with best wishes for the success OF the meet
Ing, am, very truly yours,
FRANK +. oLNEY, Mayor
Rev. Mr.. Fleming presided as the
choice OF the meeting and introduced Mr..
Gardner, who spoke substantially as fol-
lows;
I'VE are come together to give expression to
tue act that we. ia common with all other
self-respecting citiz-ns o this state, are op-
posed 10 The act that permits ga bling in the
state OF Rhode lslaud. Perhaps il is not
necessary that we shou do this. for the signs
OF the times seem 10 indicate that this
ihiquitous law Will be wiped OFF the
statute books Lat. still, il is we'll that
we shall IN this public manner utter our pro-
tcst. And IL IS necessary also that we shall
Inquire what lei up to this condition OF
affairs and take steps, not only to remedy the
evil, but to prevent a recurrence. More than
iifty years ago there WAS organized in Rhode
Island the Society to Encourage Domestic
Industry. In the furtherance of its object
fairs were held. first at Warwick and then in
Providence county. II was not intended TO
be mopey-naking institution, but IL con-
trived TO move along in the even tcnor OF its
way, maintaining an existence and suossrv-
Ing the purpose OF its orga ganization.
Now IN hmm. nad .t h., th.
estate WAS being settled up. that the park
Used for fair purposes was about TO be- sold
and this society wax induced TO take il, which
was possible by mortgagin9 IL. But the ven-
ture was not success, even though some
what questionable expedients were resorted
10 10 attract crowds. 30 the interest remained
unpaid and at length the land was
sold under foreclosure and taken
By the mortgages and some others.
In order To make the property self
supporting IL was decided to organizs fair
association and tue result was that the present
state Fair Association came into existence.
BY act OF the Ley flature Sl2u0 Of State money
WAS appropriated for the fair. AMI this. with
the proceeds Of The ia and its franchises,
made 1t possible to declare dividend that
year. But because OF certain prac-
tices the next year the appropra.
ton OF Sl200 was voted on CON
dition thnt no gambling should be permitted
" thc laf. lnc TeSull was the SlSOD
never called for. because they had sold the
privilege of gambling for a large sum. So the
business went on. but from bad to worse and
this institution that made money off gan,bl-
Ing on horse racing IL one OF the parties that
was instrumental In getting the obnoxious act
passed.
The other parties who were concerned In
securing the passage of the bill were pool
sellers. who came from other States and set
up their business here, for the business became
Immensely profitable. tor a suffcent NUN ber
OF fools was found ready 10 risk their
money In these dens OF thieves. But
tho pool sellers had two enemies Tho
police were after them for violation Of
ths law. aud the local gambler for
spelling their business. The result was
the pool sellers were put to a 10 find "A way 10
protect themselves. Their search iesulte in
u combine with the far people, Tue original
nLti-Pooi selling bill was introduced in the
Legislature by the assistant city solicitor. but
IL died IN commit e, and when IL WAS resur-
rected IL Was an entiiely different thing. IL
permitted pool selling by any agricultural
society and, because the Legislators slept the
bill passed. so there was found an asSocia-
ton Of Rhode Island men ready TO prostitute
themselves aud smirch the name OF aa honorcd
institution by Joining with gamblers and
thieves.
Now The State Fairs are held I'm September.
hut the ssnbh r wanted to b,gin eailipr. So
another institution. composed of men ard
women who certainly are not affiliated with
gamblers. namely. the Country Club. per-
mittcd these pool sellers 90 use their name and
open business In June at Narraeansett Park.
At that race meeting they went cautiously
al out their business. aud offended IA lightly
ss possible. But people hal their eyes
opened when tho regular State Fair
came on. The exhibition was more
hagrant scandnlous and disgracrful than
anyihirg that ever hap en~d. and that by the
announcement and license OF the association
that pVrsaps sOine OF us are menb,rs OF
That association that passes hefora the public
undo the gRrb of an ercourazer of industry
ana agriculture became society To foster the
worst torn II iniapiy. Not ~aly dia = 80