Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-17
GOV. o,FERRALL,s ANSWER.
What He Said in The Star Interview
About Alexandria County.

About Alexandria County.
Gov. O'FerraI, in recent statements as
to his own and Vi1ginia's responsibility for
the state Of affairs existing in Alexandria
county, Virginia, against which a protest
was made at the public meeting called by
the Washington board of trade Tuesday
night, has referred to the interview with
himself published in The Star of March 80
last as setting forth bis attitude. This in
terview, which was sent from Richmond
to The Star. under datefof March q. was
as follows: j.
Gov Chas. T. OFerrall was called upon
by The Star correspondent today and asked
as to his authority over and responsibility
Tor the gambling dens on the Virginia
shore of the Potomac in the immediate
vicinity of Washington city.
Inc governor very readily consented to
talk on this subject, and gave The Stars
reporter full interview.
IN reply to questions he said:
For years Jackson City has been prop
erly styled a curse spot Being located
the Long bridge and easy of access, it
mas been the resort Of the most vicious
classes of the city. and being only a small
village, with no police regulations, it has
been matter of impossibility to preserve
order and suppress crime. The most strin-
gent measures have been passed by the
legislature Of Virginia and the most dras-
tic laws enacted in reference to gambling,
out, While the statutes were strong enough,
the arm Of the law seemed to be too weak
to enforce them at this place, on account
or the desperate character of its habitues,
the easy means Of escape across the Poto-
mac into the District and other reasons.
Pool selling on horse racing all over the
country has become the favorite mode of
gambling there, SO last winter the legis-
hours prohibiting in the broadest terms
the making, writing or selling of books
or pools or mutuals on the results of any
trials of speed or power of endurance Of
owned or controlled by any agricultural
association or county or city fair or any
driving club or driving park already char
tered, and fixing the punishment for any
violation at fine of not less than 5000 nor
more than $500 (one-fourth to the informer)
and Imprisonment not less than thirty nor
more than ninety days.
Why He Signed 1t.
when the bill was laid before me did
not like it. 1 could see that it allowed
much latitude on agricultural grounds and
driving parks, but believed it would break
up pool selling at Jackson City and relieve
that community by removing the attraction
which supported it's dens of vice. and felt
sure that the privilege would not be abused
Tor carried to any great extent by the
agricultural societies and driving associa-
tons then chartered, as they We're man.
aged, as 1 believe by gentlemen who would
not tolerate horse racing for the sake Of
gambling. l was satisfied there would only
be agricultural fairs as usual in the fall,
and, believed, meetings on the driving
parks for a few days only, spring and fall.
Feeling the necessity of breaking up jack
son City and there being no time for an
amendment to the bill. l approved it.
Soon, much to my surprise, l learned
that an old charter granted some years
since to the Grange Association of Virgin
n q at
and whose grounds were some miles up in
fairfax county, had been purchased by
certain persons in Washington city. and
that they intended to establish a driving
park at Jackson City and run 1t under this
old charter, and conduct racing and sell
pools under the act of March B. 1894. 1 saw
at once there was trouble and that instead
of Kidding the Virginia bank of the Poto-
mac of the cursed spot 1t would be con-
tinued in an intensified form, and so it has
been.
Layv-AbidinE People Outraged.
Il do not hesitate to say that this place
stinks in the ncstrils Of the respectable and
law-abiding people of Virginia. and they
feel outraged that a lot of nonresident
gamblers, who have no interest in the fair
name or welfare of Virginia, should be per-
mitted to settle themselves down the
south bank of the Potomac and there pur-
sue their nefarious business with braZen
worst classes, under charter granted to
an honorable association of farmers for the
promotion Of agriculture ETC., some way
acquired by these men.
"A short time since, under my direct ton,
the attorney general obtained an injunction
against the owners and managers of this
race track. AT the hearing, for reasons
well understood between the attorney gen.
eral and myself, the proceedings were sus-
pended. These people are. however, resting
upon very uncertain ground, and while they
seem to feel that they are secure, the day
is not distant when they will find them
selves mistaken. They have outraged de-
cency, fostered crime, perverted legislation
and bid defiance to public sentiment al
ready too long. 1t is not proper for me to
state what steps will be taken.
Virginia prohibits faro banks, gaming
tables and all species of card gambling,
and she will not tolerate horse racing for
the sake of gambling upon the shallow pre-
tense of encouraging the breeding of horses.
If she cannot make the raising of horses
profitable without corrupting the youth Of
the country and drawing to her borders the
people who have been run away from Gut
tenburg and Jersey City, then she had bet
ter stop the breeding of bloeded horses.
She is paying too dearly for the profit she
makes.
Il am lover of fine horses; have owned
many. But I believe it is as wrong to
gamble with them as with cards, and one
is as corrupting as the other.