The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-18
All Eager to Examine the Strange ParaphPrnaIia
GEN. WOODS CASE CONTINUED
Senator Quarels Speaks During the Whole Afternoon in Favor of His Confirmation as Major
 General.

Washir gton. March 17.-Nith the para
 phernalia for playing Jai A1ai. a game
 which figures consplcuously in the contest against the confirmation of General Leon. ard Wood to be major general. the mem
 bers of the United States senate amused
 themselves for more than an hour this
 afternoon, protected from the gaze of the
 public by the closed doors of an executive
 session lively interest was manifested
 in the game It was stated by members of
 the committee that the game would be in-
 trodueed at the St. Louis exposition Sem ators Proctor. Cockrell QuareIs, Foraker,
 Teller, Scott. Pettus, Blackburn and
 others who participated in the hearing
 before the military affairs committee, where the game was explained by exports,
 were the opponents of Jai Alai.
 Messrs CoclSrell and Foraker, who have paid extensive visits to Cuba while the 'Petota' season was at its height, ex- plained that the gambling features of the game are not essential to It's adoption by the Cubans. while Senators Blackburn.
 Scott and Teller contended that without the betting privileges, the Jai Alai com rany would not have made application to General Wood for the concession to erect
 a tuilding as headquarters for the game. | The spectacle of senators clasplng the | basket racquettes in their hands and ges. | tio,ilatinC in their efforts to illustrate the
 manner of throwing the 'Petota' ball In
 real nlav. was so unusual that it came
 nearer holding quorum tnan have any
 of the fiery speeches that have been made
 for or against General Woods confrma.
 tion.
 Senators Gather in Groups.
 After the executive session had ad-
 iourned. a group of senators gathered in
 the middle or che chsmaer s.nd' Senator
 Blackburn read from the printed testimo- nv given in the Wood hearing to prove that the game is devoted almost wholly
 to gambling and that General Wood l knew this fact when he granted the fran 1 chise to the company The demonstra-
 ton of Jai Alai came in the last hour of
 the session, and through it all, ran dis
 cussion of the game in which many sem ators participated.
 l General Woods defenders scored a point
 when Senator Patterson admitted that he | had spent a day studying the testimony l in regard to the game and had come to | the conclusion that it contained nothing l detrimental to General Woods conduct, | and no reason for opposition to his confir- nation. The senator said that he had expected to oppose confirmation on the strength of the testimony against Gen. | eral Wood. but that more urgent req | son than that must be advanced.
 | In regard to Jai Alai, the principal l speakers were Senators Culberson, Pat terson, Teller Hoar, Proctor and Black | burn. Senator Proctor the acting chair man Of the committee on military affairs, | in addition to the equipment of the game, had a picture of "a petota court" show ing General Wood and three companions l enjoying the game.
 | Senator Quarels resumed his speech in support of the nomination, when the sen ate went into executive session at 12:35 D. m. and held the floor until p. m. It had been expected that Senator Teller would follow, but on account of the late hour, a general discussion was had in- stead Senator Foraker vii Speak to-
 morrow in defense of General Wood and will occupy most of the day This will carry the case over until Saturday night | at least, as Senators Teller and Alger are both scheduled for speeches.