Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-09
COUNTY SUPERVISORS
BURY ASCOT PETITION
Signed Plea to Suppress Gambling at Race Track
Is Relegated to Dim Limbo of Distant
acknowledgement Speeches Made

'But is It right to ruin our sports
and bring shame to our city by allow
! ing the dsgraceful pool selling which
| now exists at Ascot park.
GOD has blessed us with one Of the
| brightest spots in the world for
| home. We have the most delightful
J advantages of climate. Hundreds Of
the best people of America and the
| whole world come annually to visit
Southern California, and must we then
allow them to go away saying that
gambling Is Countenanced and sup
ported by our officials.
5urdette Leaps Over Railing
"When in Kentucky 1 helped put up
for the support of the Breeders as
ISOLATION, but 1t was for the clean hon
est support that means the life OF
many of the race tracks of the blue
grass state.
II am willing to state that if gam
bling Is taken away from Ascot park
the wind will be taken out of the sails
of every minister in Los Angeles and
there will no longer be any complaint
, against Ascot park or the races there"
Rev. Robert J. Burdette, represent
ing the w. G.. T.. T., was then called
for. Rev. Mr.. Burdette was outside
the counter and as the crowd was
packed close at the entry he said that
he would speak from the ranks.
mo, come inside" was called out,
| and the 1.-THE minister. putting one hand
on the counter, vaulted over, remarking
as he did so, THAT Is not the first
time | have leaped over the breast
works before hostile faces"
Il am here to represent the silent
sufferers said Rev. Mr.. Burdette.
You men who have the sway of the
government have it because of your
own sanction. The women can't so to
the polls They have no vote, no MAX
ing of the laws, no appointment of Of
! ficials,
Pleads Cause of Women
Gentlemen, the honor has been
| granted to me to represent this, the
highest type of citizens of the state
These women who would rather die
than to sacrifice one boy; whose hearts
are broken when their boys go wrong
These patient sufferers who. when the
young men of this country march away
to war, fight every battle with them,
tight with the patient suffering; their
hearts and souls with those they love.
fight till the last battle is over.
representing them, gentlemen,
come to you, relying on your honor and
your chivalry Close Ascot park and
save the boys"
t"hC SCHlilieIII Oul OI our IlVeS ana
God pity u.s." said the representative
of the Church federation. 81 repre-
sent about thirty of the churches of
Los Angeles and we all ask that the
betting be stopped at Ascot
III for no other reason let your de-
cision be governed by sentiment. Think
what 1t will mean to these boys, to us
ALL" w
L. c. Gates, former police commits
| crn11 1.sa1
the thirty thousand citizens who had
signed the petitions against Ascot.
made the closing address for the peopie
Speaks for Ascot Park
The good Lord taught us his
prayer" said Gates. Lead us not into
temptation. but deliver us from evil. -
short time before / left the po-
| nee commission there was a general
uiuer 10 cut down city expenses. 1t
| was proposed TO cut down some of the
ponce force, but when we proposed it
the chief of police said: There is a
constant drain on our department and
at no time of the year is the CITY in
greater need of police protection than
at the time when Ascot park is open,
when thugs and thieves who follow the
track are loafing about the city,
Attorney Gates plea was ardent and
he gave place to Attorney George Ad-
ans, who appeared for the Los Angeles
Jockey club.
IT, as citizen of Los Angeles. want
| TO say right here that no form of gam
bling is lawful and that 1 am opposed
to it, said Attorney Adams. II never
do any of it myself and l have never
been at Ascot park.
But there is just this to be said.
Every human must have certain
| sport l take mine in shooting ducks,
Another man takes his in automobiling.
While still others prefer prizefights and
football. But in all sports there is
bound to be certain amount of bet
ting and when a man wants to bet,
the best thing we can hope to do is
to keep 1T within bounds. 1t is q mat
ter more for the Legislature than for
the supervisors.
Commend Race Track
1T is said that SO many millions are
| taken away from Los Angeles during q
season, but it is a well known fact
that of the thirty-eight books operated
at Ascot last year. only six of them fin
ished the year, even or anywhere near
even. There has been over half mil
| lion expended on the Ascot track and
not director in it has received a div
idend. They are all prominent business
men of Los Angeles and eminently re-
spectacle.
THE 20 per cent of bettors at the
track are tourists who can afford to
pet and many of them come here
solely to follow the track and have a
little sport"
Attorney Adams then read letters OF
commendation from John Blackwood
of the Belasco, who commended the
races because of the patronage il
brought the theaters. Other theatrical
managers, hotel managers and cafe
owners commended the track besides
statements from many prominent Cal
ifornians. A statement from William
Pinkerton was read In which he stated
that Ascot was one of the cleanest
parks in the world.