Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-02-06
THE RACE TRACK FIGHT.


The fight for the abolition OF pool
selling and other species of race-course
betting is now on in earnest in the Leg
islature, and will probably extend over
q week or more; in the meantime the
session OF that body is drawing to
close.
When the Maupin bill TO prevent
gambling and selling or making DOCKS
pools or mutuals in Virginia came up
in the House yesterday an effort was
made by Representative Pitcher OF
Fauquier, to postpone the consinera-
ton of the measure until next MOL
day but there was storm of opposl-
ton evident. Dir. Murphy, the hrst
speaker, provoked vigorous applause
When he stated that he would vote
AGAINST ire Pitcher bill. He consider
ed j that he was opposing the manner IN
which racing was now carried Oh heai
Alexandria, and he had heard no one
from that vicinity express himself on
the subject except against the disgrace
full and outrageous proceedings now
carried on around Alexandra. He
voted in the committee for the Pitcher
bill, but after considering both meas
ures carefully he was satisfied that the
Pitcher bill would never become a law
il passed, and he did not want to go
on record as having sanctioned q meas.
ure that would permit such scenes as
have for two years been witnessed al
Alexander Island and vicinity. be
said II have heard from the people OF
Alexandria, and l want to assist them
in closing the tracks in their county,
and believe if the Pitcher bill is pass.
ed that it will not remedy the EVIL
which exists there. therefore shall
vote against it."
Mr.. Maupin, the patron of the anti
gambling bill, spoke with much feeling
against the substitute measure. He
read newspaper articles against the evil
existing around Alexandria, and stated
that the den of iniquity in question was
growing worse each month. "Think OF
the Young men those gambling dens
bad ruined and the mothers hearts
broken by their sons going to the devil
through the agency of the places
named" said he. Mr.. Maupin quoted
from a long list of papers in the State
urging the passage of the anti-gambling
measure, and said that the people of
Virginia demanded that these gamb-
ling dens be broken up, and the citi-
zsns of the State would hold the legis-
iators responsible for their action 10
this matter. The proceedings carried
on at Alexander's Island were an out
rage to the State and blot on her fair
name. The Governor, press, people,
were all opposed to it, and only few
gamblers and stock raisers were In
favor of the system of pool-selling. "If
the Pitcher bill was passed it would be
thrown out as unconstitutional, and
within short time the tracks, which
had temporarily closed for effect during
the recent controversy, would reopen
and the same disgraceful scenes would
be resumed, and hundreds OF people
from Washington 60 over to the gamo-
ling dens opposite the national capital
and continue to ply their nefarious
trade" He read appeals from the Wo.
mans Christian Temperance Union and
other organizations urging the passage
of the Maupin bill.
Mr.. Reddy, whose pool selling bill
was substituted in the committee by
the Pitcher measure, tried to throw
cold water on the efforts for the Maui
pin bill. He said that measures had
been seldom discussed outside Of pull
pit and without prayer, and it was
interesting to note that the House had
opened its session today without
aver. 1t had been stated that OPP
ponents of the Msupin bill were the
friends of gamblers and stand hand in
glove with blacklegs. This was false,
slanderous charge. He represented
the executive committee of the Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical Society,
which was opposed to the Maupin bill.
That measure would not break up the
grievance in question. There was no
question of morals involved, and if he
thought the passage of the Maupin bill
would save single young man from
ruin he would support it. Mr.. Reddy
reviewed the field Of argument which
has been brought out repeatedly, appeal
ing to The horse interests, the tax-paying
stock breeders and all that for his sup
port. He stated that the arguments in
favor of the unconstitutionality of the
Pitcher bill would not hold water.
Judge Norton, of Alexandria, had pre-
pared the bill, and it was framed with
the purpose of breaking up winter rae
ing, which it would accomplish. Judge
Norton. and many citizens of Alexan-
dria, had worked faithfully to break up
winter racing in Alexandria county,
and when the matter came up before
the committee, said he, only one
man who was not preacher
had protested against the bill.
In response to the claim that the
Pitcher bill was unconstitutional, Mr..
Murphy said that it was drawp by
Judge Norton, of Alexandria, who had
been more energetic in stopping the
winter racing and lawlessness in Alex
andria county than all the pulpit ora
tors and newspapers in the State.
Mr.. Maupin here disclaimed any in
tention of having reflected on Judge
Norton in his remarks, and Mr.. Reddy,
continuing, said that though Judge
Norton had favored the Maupin bill,
he had asserted that either the Reddy
or the Pitcher bills would operate to
eliminate the evils existing in Alexan-
dria county.
Two O'Clock was set for a special
ordar opd tbat hour found Mr. Rpddv |