The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-03-20
Voorhees,
WORST.
Fake Message About Gam
bling a Mere Partisan
Roorback.
SAYS He MEANS HUDSON
There Is No Gambling in This
County, However, But
Lots at Long
Branch.
SAYS He MEANS HUDSON
Especial to .sThe Jersey City News.")

ent and continual arraignment by THE
Jersey City News and other independent
newspapers throughout the State of the
Republican officials of Monmouth coun-
ty, who have tacitly sanctioned the no.
torious and open gambling places at Lorg
Branch, has born fruit
Governor Voorhees, yesterday sent to
both branches of the Legislature a special
message in which he called attention to
the state of affairs in Monmouth ana
asked that action be taken in the mat
ter. This is the message:-
"Gentlemen-By the constitutional
amendment recently adopted it is provld-
ed that no pool selling, bookmaking or
gambling of any kind shall be authorized
or allowed within this State, nor shall
any gambling device, practice or game OF
chance prohibited by law at the time of
the adoption of the constitution amend
ment, be legalized.
TT is a notorious fact that in certain
localities in this State officers authorized
to enforce the laws in this regard, do not
perform their duty. In some places, SO
nagraEt and continuous are the violations
of the constitution and the criminal laws
of the State that the judges of our courts
have repeatedly called the attention of
LIE OTdHQ JuIl6S 10 The Stlllo l1Cy nave
been unable TO suppress the practices and
have declared that their failure was due
entirely to the supineness or worse of the
local authorities. Their efforts have been
thwarted by the wilful neglect or the
connivance of officers whose sworn duty
it was to enforce the laws. In order that
there may be some way to reach these
cases have caused to be prepared a bill.
iS bor ciJbu1itfpd and the
adoption of which is urgently recommend
ed. 1t will furnish means to aid the Ex-
ecutive of the State and others who so de-
sire TO secure proper enforcement of the
laws
1.-THE continuance of these gambling
practices is a menace to public and pri-
vate morals and the suppression thereof
is of vital Importance to the State. All
means must be employed by those in au-
thority to uphold the courts in suppress
ing this evil and in maintaining law The
proposed legislation seems to be necessary
to that end and it's adoption before the
close of the present session is respectful
ly urged
On motion of Leader Lewis the message
was received with the declaration that the
matter therein contained would receive
the earliest consideration of the House.
There is much speculation as to whether
anything will be done and it is was free
ly declared by the hardened ones that
when Mr.. Lewis declared that they would
receive the earliest consideration of the
House he spoke in a Pickwickian sense.
1t is an open secret that the only way
n which the Republicans have been able
to maintain their grip on Monmouth
County is by making close alliance with
the gamblers of Long Branch. The vast
campaign funds which alone has enabled
them to carry elections in that county in
recent years has come from the gamblers
in return for which the Knights of the
Red and Black have been permitted to
conduct their nefarious trade as openly
as the butcher, the baker or the candle
stick maker. Their palatial establish
ments have been and are today as open
and accessible as the drug store or con-
fectionery shop. They are on the main
streets and no attempt is ever made to
conceal them or the business that is car
ried on behind their magnificent stained
glass doors.
The few Monmouth County Republicans
who were about the State House when
the message was received were furious
and declared that one more the Governor
had put his party in a deep hole.
The Governor however, thinks that in
stead of putting his party in a hole his
onslaught on the gamblers is very
clever move and one calculated to make
much capital for the Republicans. He
says that although the message is appli-
cable to all places in the State where
gambling exists he particularly had in
mind Hudson County, where at Harrison,
r. 10,
open defiance of the law.
The attention was brought to these
Harrison pool sellers by attacks upon
them in the Newark papers and in order
to satisfy himself beyond doubt as OF
whether they really existed he sent two
young men in whom he has expect con-
fidence to investigate. The young men
brought him evidence which he as a law
yer considered sufficient OF warrant an
Indictment and he submitted it to Prose-
cutor Irwin of Hudson. Mr.. Erwin took
the same view of the matter and laid the
evidence before the Hudson County Grand
Jury. When one of the young men was
before the jury and had given his testi-
mony one of the members of the Grand
Inquest, according to the Governors
story asked the young man who insti-
gated him to go to Harrison and spy on
the gamblers.
"Governor Voorhees," replied the young
man thinking to strengthen his case.
well, what the - has Governor Vor-
hees got to do with Hudson county" the
Grand Juror is said to have exclaimed,
and that enough of his confreres agreed
with his sentiment to the extent that no
Indictment was found and the case was
thrown out.
The Governor added that Justice Col
lins had gone to Monmouth and repeat
edly called the attention of the local au-
thorities to the existence of gambling at
Long Branch and other places in the
county. and after him Judge Fort had
done the same without any attention
being paid to them The Governor said
he thought it was time that that state
Of affairs ceased and he had prepared a
bin which he thought would do much to-
improve the situation.
TllIs was introduced ~ Mr. 1.swfs the