The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-05
THE TINES RICHMOND va THURSDAY. DECEMBER $. 1895

THE IIMES--R1
ment under the vagrant statute OF the
state. but treir numbers rendered the law
inoperative The citizens appealed TO me
fot aid. and my mail for weeks was Iilltd
almost daily with letters from female
residents praying for relief. There nae
however. been no a,tual breaches OF The
peace. nor threatened violence and | was
poHerless TO act in the abscrce OF call
from the civil authorities. Finally cdi'
came from the sheriff and board OF su-
pervisors. and Immediately J ordered "A
military force to proceed TO the locality
and require the entire army to leave
the state Ny orcers were obeyeh at
once, and the county Of Alexandria was
relieved Of the horde Of Migrants, beg
! glrs. and cranks that for weeks had peeh
! disturbing the peace OF mind CT deiehcs-
less women and eating up the substance
! OF her people
This ended "Coxeyism,' AMI DO no,
, think Virginia will again be afflicted WIN
| it. The cost of the military on TINS oc-
casion was about three-tenths OF one cent
| on the thousand dollars OF the taAaDie
property of the State.
My report as to the use Of the military
| Is now concluded. II has occupied much
| space. but / nave given you all ihe lac's'
| as my duty required. In every instance
there were direct calls from the sheriffs
OF the various counties. except In the
case OF Pocahontas. and In that the sher-
If, while not calling directly, cominu-
nicated the facts to me, leaving me to
determine, Indicating, however very
clearly. that. in his opinion, troops were
necessary. and then ordering them almost
instantly TO the scene or the disturbance
when they were placed in his reach.
Before concluding this branch Of my
message. | must In the strongest terms
commend the volunteer soldiers Of the
State. officers and men, for their ready
response 10 every command. and their
faithful discharge Of every duty, at the
sacrifice Of their comfort and business
interests.
HORSEBACK GAMBLING.
Gambling on horse-races has become
a shame and disgrace to Virginia. IL
has been carried on the year round. and
has attracted the gambling fraternity,
including the worst element OF II, from
every section Of the country and invited
the youths Of the State to the tracks 10
be corrupted.
The General Assembly. at its last ses-
sion. finding that there was no statute
prohibiting book-making, pOol-selling. &C.
and that this species of gambling was be-
ing conducted constantly at Jackson city.
in Alexandria county passed an act
making it unlawful for any person or
persons or association OF persons, cor
poration or corporations, TO sell or make
books, pools, or mutuals upon the result
of any trial of speed or power OF endur-
ance of animals or beasts. &c, anywhere
within the State. except upon the grounds
owned and controlled by agricultural as
sociations. county or city fairs, driving
parks or driving clubs heretofore char
tered The special object OF this act was
to break up the gambling dens, where
pool-selling, &c, was done. at Jackson
City. and which had made that locality
a vertable pest-spot for years
II was represented and believed by
the General Assembly that the privilege
of pOol-selling or making books, &c, on
the grounds of agricultural associations
or fairs and driving clubs or parks then
in existence would not be used TO encour-
age gambling and create gambing-places.
The bill was presented TO me on the 81
day of March 1894, five days before the
session of the General Assembly expired
by Imitation / objected to the eXcep-
ton in favor Of agricultural associations
or fairs and driving clubs or parks, but
being assured that the passage Of no 9TH
er bill on the subject could be secured
on account of the lateness Of the session,
and believing that il would close the dens
al Jackson City. and that the managers
of the agricultural fairs and driving parks
i'm the State would use the privilege care
fully. l thought il best to approve the
bill and at least reduce the eNl 10
minimum, and accordingly. on the 81
day of March. 1894, ! appended my sigma
ture TO the act.
But. while the act had the effect OF
closing the pool shops. &c, at Jackson
City, they were simply transferred to
two other places, short distances there
from.
BY virtue Of a charter granted 10y the
General Assembly, at the session OF lss7-'5
10 the Grange Camp Association OF North-
ern Virginia, whose franchises were Sc
cured by persons who are said 10 reside
i'm Washington city. a driving park was
established a few hundred yards from
jackson City and the long bridge span
ming the Potomac river at Washington
City, and there, daily during the fan Of
1894 and the winter Of 1919 and, with
slight intermssions. TO the present tlme'
i'm all seasons and weather, racing, pool
selling. and book making. &c, have been
carried on I'm bold defiance of the spirit
and intention of the General Assembly
and the act Of March g. 1894. To these
grounds the gamblers from every direc-
ton have repaired. and. on account Of
their proximity TO the city OF Washing
ton. they have attracted the worst ele-
ment as well as the youths Of that city.
So corrupting. demoralizing, and shame
ful have the practices become that
have been appealed TO in the most earn
est terms by the respectable citizens
and Board OF Trade OF the national capt.
tai for relief. But as these outrageous
acts have been committed under cover
but i'm abuse OF the act Of March 3. 1891.
1 have found that both myself and the
honorable Judge Of the County Court OF
Alexandria county have been utterly pow
erless to interfere.
The other place TO which / have re-
ferred is nearer the city Of Alexandria,
on the line OF the Southern railway,
but almost as acceSsible 10 Washington
city as the Alexandria Island Park 1t
is known as ST. Asaph and has differed
in no material particular, so far as 1
am informed. from Alexander Island
mark. except that there has been no win
ter racing on its track. In great meas
ure the same element frequenis il, ana
pool-seHing, book-making, &c. mark the
constant meetings on its grounds.
| earnestly recommend that the act or
March g. 1884. be amended by striking
out the exception in favor of agricultural
associations or fairs, and driving CLUBS
or parks.
Let the selling OF books or making OF
pools or mutuals, be absolutely prohibited
in the State of Virginia. Other states
have driven horse-race gambling from