Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1906-01-30
Opposition to Turf Exchange.
housing County Mass Meeting Held In Charles
Totcn.

Housing County Mass Meeting Held In Charles
Toton.
Not for years, if ever, have the people
of Jefferson county been so stirred up
over any matter transpiring in the piping
times of peace as they have over the pro-
posed licensing and location of a Turf
Exchange" at Harpers Ferry. Accord
ingly at the mass meeting called for last
Thursday the people poured in from all
parts of the county. and promptly at
eleven o'clock the courthouse was well
filed with one of the most respectable
representative gatherings of citizens ever
assembled here.
Rev, DR.. A. c. Hopkins was, Oh mo-
ton of Mr.. John T. Colston, called to
preside over the meeting, with Mr.. John
P. Kearfott as secretary. DR.. Hopkins
clearly and forcibly set forth the object
of the meeting. with the character of the
evil with which it was called to contend,
after which Bishop Gravatt took the
stand and with an emphatic declaration
of his feelings as citizen IN the matter
laid before the meeting startling infor-
nation as to the damning character of a
Turf Exchange" as it has existed in
Jackson City, almost under the shadow
of the dome of the national capitol. One
person described it as a very hell on
earth. Two of the detectives of Maj.
Sylvester, Chief of Police of Washing
ton City. described one of the persons
whose names appear on the Jefferson
county petition as leader of the Jackson
City party. A business letter from Maj.
Sylvester to Messrs. VIM. Phillips Sons
of this place, in regard to contemplated
improvements upon the handsome build
ing of the Washington City Rod and
Gun Club, on Cliff on the Virginia side
of the Potomac below Harpers Ferry.
declared the matter off until the Turf
Exchange" was disposed of, as members
of the Club would not bring their wives
and children there If the Turf Ex-
change" was located in Harpers Ferry.
Senator Mcfarland. who, with his fami-
ly, has been a summer boarder at Har-
pers Ferry. wrote Rev. Father Collins
joining heartily in the protest. and DR..
w. V. Marmion wrote, 1T would be an
outrage to start that gambling hell at
Harpers Ferry"
Expressions from citizens from various
parts of the county were called for. Hon
A. S. cambridge. of Shepherdstown, APP
proved of the meeting and its object.
Rev. Father Collins. of Harpers Ferry,
said that he was glad that he had been
called upon. He stood as the representa-
tive of that town, delegated by its Town
Council. They were deceived as to the
character of men they were dealing with.
and were led to believe that they were
men who were coming to help build up
the old town. On the matter being fair
ly represented by committee of citizens
the Council acknowledged its error and
unanimously revoked its ill-advised ac-
ton. A representative of the proposed
Turf Exchange" said Father Collins.
called upon him and wanted to know
why he SO bitterly opposed their coming
to Harpers Ferry. ION general princi-
Piles" promptly said he. and further,
you will never come here" I'VE will
come" said the representative, 'even if
we have to carry the fight to the SUI
preme Court OF the United States" Then
said Father Collins County Court or
no County Court Supreme Court or no
Supreme Court; you will never come here
even if every mothers son of us have
to arm ourselves with shotguns and
drive you out,
Hon. c. M. Wetzel. Jefferson county
member of the West Virginia Legisla-
ture, could not tell exactly how the clause
allowing the license of a Turf Ex-
change" got into the tax bill, but the
Republicans controlled it and passed it,
whilst the Democrats voted against the
bill in in toto, it being party measure.
He was certain; however, of the repeal
of that clause by the next Legislature.
He spoke of the evil being driven out of
Washington City, and personally knew
of young men who were ruined by it.
Knew young married man from Indi-
ana whom he went to see and found him
in the pool room of the Turf Exchange"
with not money enough left to buy a
supper, He was afterwards dismissed
from his government position. in debt