The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-17

there should be one against pool selling.
"The horsemen argue that they cannot
have racing without betting, and that
prohibition of racing would stop the breed
ing of thoroughbred horses. l say then let
the horses go.
II have a high sense of justice in this
matter If the gambling at the race track
is allowed, then the chief of police Should
stop chasing The tin-horn gamblers from
one dark room to another"
He then explained tine system of book
making, stating that racing as 1t is run now
is on a par with loaded dice.
81 say that pool selling as it Is engaged
| in today is the most viliainous form Of high
way robbery in America. cloud applause).
why is it that people are so anxious to
have races run? 1 have been told that
there is "a bonus eff $1,5o0 paid per day to
this track by the pool room syndicate.
Without races xne pool rooms cannot run.
AS soon as Judge Feagin's decision was
rendered news came that pool rooms would
be opened in Mobile and Montgomery.
venture to say that If this matter is not
restricted pool room Will be in operation
ON every corner in this city in the near
future.
IF this lining continues you will see the
same scenes enacted as went on at THE old
fair grounds years ago.
But the question is, Shall we allow
gambling or mott?
II have been told that man has right
to do What he pleases VITA ais money. MY
answer TO that is, Has a man right to do
what he pleases with fre?' He can use his
money fer What he pleases, provided 1t IS
not to the INJURY of uIis neislabors and the
community"
DR.. Fitzsimmons closed his remarks by
comparing the antl-pool law to the Savior
in the sepulchre: Though it is temper
arily entonlbed, it will soon break forth in
all its glory"
Capt. w. Z. Ward
Captain w. C, Ward was 1.-THE NEXT speaker.
In January, 1897, 1 had tihe pleasure of
addressing audience eff 1000 in the First
| Methodist church, most of whom were
| LADIES, and the reason there is not a larger
crowd of ladies out tonight is because most
OF them We're put ON the State Fair COM
m1ttees. That was a cunnin2ly devised
! scheme More than that, 1 don't believe
| that a spark of patriotism prompted the
| bringing of Admiral Schley to this city
| linen the Fair people patched up a lot of
old confederate veterans and marched Them
out and let them in the grounds at two bits
a head.
The eyil-minded men have openly tramp
| led right land Justice underfoot Go up
| there and look at the charter off THE Ala
bama State Fair and you will see among
| the hist of men some of the most notorious
| gamblers in the state. Then tell me THAT
you did not know that gambling would be
| allowed.
Il say to you as citizens that you have
| not done your duty. What can you do now
| under the decision of Judge Feagin? You
must form yourselves into a body and vote
| solidly for the best men for office in the
/ next election. 1t is said when a certain
! Judge Was elected in Montgomery, cham
| payne flowed at the expense of a gambler,
! almost enough to battle in.
NOW, just go through the board of al
dermen and see now many of them are in
IaVcr Of gambling" He spoke of Chief
| Austin as being the most efficient officer he
| ever knew.
| Captain Ward said he was almost in ia
Vor OF letting crap shooting go on in the
| middle of the streets, it was the most
harmless form of gambling Still, it is
/ prosecuted tine most because negroes play
| It, They have it so arranged that Judge
| Feagin tries all the gambling cases except
| what the circuit court wants to sit on. Did
| you ever hear of this courut sitting on
| one?
This game at the fair grounds is not a
game of chance When Hewlett sets up
his stands, he knows who is going to win
! Talk about prophetsl He is the only one |
know. tell you you have got to organize
| to vote, and not to resolutei" Great ap-
| plause.)
| DIR. Eager of Montgomery
DR.. Eager, of Montgomery was then in
| trodueed, and spoke in substance as fol-
| lows:
| II am glad to be with you, and there is
| no one who knows me that will doubt l am
| with YOU" DR.. Eager referred to Captain
| Ward as the Robert Hall of the occasion.
| he sTi1St 7
| believe this pool selling to be what the stat
utes proclaim it, and when it demoralizes
religion and everything that is good shall
fight it to the bitter end"
| DR.. Eager said he hoped the audience did
not come here to find fault with the de-
cision of Judge Feagin. I'VE would be the
last to be in contempt of any court. 1T is
through these institutions of the govern.
ment that we get JUSTICE
He then related the history of the racing
in New Jersey, which held sway for six
| teen years. after leaving That state, the
race men then began to rest themselves
| Virginia soil, across the river from Wash
| ington. This was also swept away They
have now come to greener fields, and are
attempting to debauch our south land. As
soon ! saw the decision l knew that it
was not a community, but a state affair
We should take this meeting as a basis for
a protest from all parts of the land. Let it
be told from every pulpit on next Sunday.
l wish it could be shown who is responsible
for this evil. I would like to be shown
what positions these men occupy in this
state that they could be held up for public
condemnation.
ut is not what is going on now, but what
effect this initial step will have on the flu
ture."
He spoke of the great evils enacted in
Virginia before the racing was stopped.
DR.. Eager said that no man in civic po
sition would have gambler for partner
or for a clerk.
81 believe that a gambler should be made
to the law felon, and that the penalties
should not be misdemeanors."
DR.. Eager then talked of the lighter forms
of gamblers church grab bags, etc. He
said this was the foundation for the great
evil which is now threatening the state. He
concluded by saying:
There is no plague, yellow fever, bu-
bonic or anything else as great as this
threatening evil, pool selling,
DIR. Gray moved that when the meeting
adjourned the chairman be continued until