Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-18
WOOD PLAYS JAIALAI|
Senators Amused Themselves
 With the Cuban Game.
WAS FRANCHISE GRANTED GAMBLERS?
Patterson Spent Day Studying Tes- t1mony and Found Nothing
 Against W00d-Senator Fora- ker to Speak Ir Defense.

ker to Speak In Defense.
 WAsHINGToN March IS. : With the paraphernalia for playing jai alai, a game which figures conspicuously in the contest against the confirma- ton of General Leonard Wood to be major general, the members of the United States senate amused them selves for more than an hour, protect ed from the gaze of the public by the closed doors of an executive session. A lively interest was manifested in the game. 1t was stated by members of the conanittee that the game will be introduced at the St Louis exposition. Senators Proctor, Cockrell, Quarles, Foraker, Teller, Scott, Pettus, Black burn and others, who participated in the hearings before the military af- fairs committee, where the game was explained by experts, were the ex- ponents of jai alai.
 Senators Cockrell and Foraker, who have paid extensive visits to Cuba while the ''pelota'' season was at it's height, explained 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 company would not have made application to General Wood for the concession to erect a building as headquarters for the game The spectacle of senators graspfng the basket rackets in their hands and ges- ticulat ting in their efforts to illustrate the manner of throwing the Epelota' ball in real play was so unusual that it came nearer holding quorum than have any of the fiery speeches that have been made for or against Gener- al Woods confirmation.
 After the executive session had ad- | journed group of senators gathered in the middle of the chamber, and Sen ] ator Blackburn read from the printed | testimony given in the Wood hearing to prove that the game is devoted al- most wholly to gambling and that Gen. eral Wood knew this fact when he granted the franchise to the company. The demonstration of jai alai came in the last hour of the session, and through it all ran discussion of the game, in which many senators particf- pated.
 General Woods defenders scored a point when Senator Patterson admit ted that he had spent day studying l the testimony in regard to the game and had come to the conclusion that it contained nothing detrimental to l General Woods conduct and no rea- son for opposition to his confirmation. 1 The senator said that he had expected l to oppose confirmation on the strength ! of the testimony against General Wood, l but that more urgent reason than l that must be advanced.
 1 In regard to jai alai the principal speakers were Senators Culberson, Pat terson, Teller, Hoar, Proctor and Black burn. Senator Proctor, the acting chairman of the committee on military affairs, had made requisition on the war department for the appurtenances of the game, and when the hearings had been concluded he decided to keep the articles at his office to use in the event the members of the senate were l interested. Tn addition to the equip meI1t for the game he had a picture of a pelota court showing General Wood and three companions enjoying the game.
 Senator Quarles resumed his speech in support of the nomination when the senate went into executive session. It had been expected that Senator Teller
 would follow, but general discussion
 was had instead Senator Foraker
 will speak in defense of General Wood l and will occupy most of the day. This
 will carry the case over until tonor-
 row night at least, as Senators Teller
 and Alger both are scheduled fol l speeches.
 Nine Persons Hurt by Explosion.
 PRINCETON, Ind, March 1S.-Nine l persons were injured, Mrs. Francis
 Rogers fatally, in a fire caused by the