Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-09-23
Bucket Shop Fighter.

OF Trade, is a leader in the fgE. against
''bucketshop" and ..bucketshop" evils
The result of his ten-year campaign
against gambling and rabbery in the
stock, cotton ala produce markets are
appreciated No other man in the
West has shown more fearlessness and
persistence in striving for the over.
throw of that class of men who have
prospered at the expense of the gullible
public, and none other has accomplish
ed more than he along these lines.
At the solicitation of friends in Chi
cago Mr.. Hill has prepared volume
on ''bucketshops' and the practices OF
almost all classes of gamblers. All
that he has written is based upon his
own observations and experiences.
Ten years ago Mr.. Hill, then sc
years old. and one of the youngest
members of the Chicago Board OF
Trade. was pressed into the fight
| which that institution was waging
against bucketshots and their methods.
After he had been connected with the
movement for short time the direc-
ton OF the campaign was placed in
his hands and he started out to discip.
line everybody whose methods were
not in keeping with the rules of the
Board of Trade He tramp.ed hard
on The toes of some of the most promi-
nent memb bers of the body, and stop
ped at no one. Friends OF some of the
men attacked by him went to him and
urged that his efforts be directed else
where, or, if not that, to be less severe.
"You people have got me into this
thing now," said Mr.. Hill, ''and | am
going to do the best I can. The big
man who violates our rules and de-
frauds the people is no better than the
little fellow who does the same thing. "
Within a reasonable time MIR. Hill
had by his aggressiveness aroused q
spirit of hostility against himself, but
he stood his ground. The stronger
the pressure became the more deter
mined were his efforts to clear away
the rubbish.
He ..went after all classes of gamb-
lers, and it was not long until some OF
the most thriving bucketshops and
poolrooms were closed and their pro-
prietors arrested. While hif chief
purpose has been to discourage
counterfeited speculating in produce.
especially in the more important cere-
ais, he has felt that al forms of gam
bling must be fought. About fve
years ago he instituted a vigorous war
against race track gambling and sue
ceeded in disquafifying many track
| bosses. As q result of his efforts some
of the men hardest hit by the crusade
caused his home to be dynamited. A
big stick of the explosive was placed
near his bedroom and touched off
| while he and his famiiy-his wife and
two daug ghters-slept. One whole end
OF the house was wrecked, but the
occupants miraculously escaped injury.
Many predicted that this experience
would discourage further efforts on Mr..
Hills part, but they were mistaken.
Angered by the attempt to take his
life ana the lives of his wife and
daughters, he renewed his attempts
with pronounced vigor. For five years
he has been seeking the men who blew
up his home. Now he knows who they
are, and he promises not to rest until
he has woven about them week OF con.
elusive evidence.
MIR. Hill was born in the little town
of Peru, ILL.,, going to Chicago and
entering the grain and produce before
he was 2l. When his services were
impressed into the fight against market
gambling he was enjoying q large
commission business, which he has
| allowed to fade away because Of the
| necessity of giving his entire attention
| in the Board of Trades campaign.
The warfare against bucketshops and
| similar institutions has become q part
| of his daily life. and he says that he
! will continue to do all he can to blot
| ou4the evils.
| Mfr. Hill is distinctly home man,
and he is happy when, after har
days work-and the work of all days
is hard-he gets into his slippers and
falls into an easy chair with his Glib
ben or his Thackera,y as companion.