Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-01-27
INVITES PASTOR
TO TAKE ACTION
LAWYER SENDS THE RET0RT
COURTEOUS
District Attorney Fredericks Replies
to Rev. Frank Dewitt TsIn1age's
open Letter Regarding
Gambling Evil

District Attorney ]. u. Fredericks
made another statement in answer to
Rev. Frank De witt Talmage yester-
day, setting forth his reasons for not
proceeding against Ascot park and
leading the forces of the church against
the alleged race track evils, as desired
Ey Rev. Mr.. Talmage.
Recently District Attorney Fredericl<s
wrote an open letter stating his posi-
ton on the Ascot park question, ana
Friday Rev. Mr.. Talmage had q reply
in which he claimed that the district
attorney had the power to prevent
gambling at Ascot park and that to-
morrow night he would preach a SER
mon taking the Ascot park gambling
evil as his subject.
Invites Prompt Action
In his latest statement Mr.. Fredericks
said:
THE offense which Brother Talmage
thinks is being committed at Ascot
park is a misdemeanor If anything.
Any person may prosecute a misde-
meanor without the sanction of the
district attorneys office, If he so de-
slres. Mr.. Galbreth is an attorney; let
him sail in. Whatever permission and
authority he may think he needs from
me to make a test l will give him.
OF course, | would not allow him to
take any steps which would render me
liable OH my official bond, except to
do those things which he can do with
out my authority.
There are no facts in the letter you
show me which change my opinion of
the law, which is that there is now
no law by which race track gambling
can be suppressed In Los Angeles
county
"The reverend gentleman has not ac-
Ccpted my invitation to bring his law
and his lawyer to my office, nor has he
done anything which would indicate
that his purpose in this agitation is to
convince me as to the correctness. of
his personal views.
Says Task Is Difficult
"If l desired any information on
questions of theology I would likely
apply to him or some other person In
his profession. This being legal ques-
ton, however, I would prefer to get my
light from some one skilled in that pro-
fession.
II asked Mr.. Talmage to name his
lawyer because I would like to have
the public know the source of his legal
opinions. I have no doubt that If we
could convince the good doctor that he
is wrong he would change his mind,
Out as UnlS is d legal QueSllpll, anu ic
certainly does not claim to be skilled
In the law, I am afraid the task would
be rather a difficult one. He says the
more he broodS over the subject the
more firmly Is he convinced that the
district attorney can lead us to VIC
tory and to prove 1t he is going to
publicly speak on the subject next Sun
day night. How will that prove 1T?
1t is a legal question. Will he argue it
bafn o1raOatinn nf skilled
in the law, and will the congregation
render a decision at the termination Of
his argument? That is the way legal
questions are proven. / have never
yet known that brooding over legal
question would enable one to arrive at
correct legal conclusion.
Will Be Helped by Other Class
II am glad he believes L am an
honest man. That helps some. 1t is a
pleasure to me to return the compH-
ment. / have often suspected myself
that was an honest man, and believe
In this case that by reason of that fact
I must be honest with myself and not
try to do something which I am not
authorized to do.
eff the good doctor would like to
nominate and elect another district at
torney next fall, let him go to it, I
have no doubt there are many distin-
guished people in this county who have
disagreed with us in our course who
would be glad to reach across what
has generally been considered an i'm
passable chasm and clasp hands with
the good doctor in his worthy enter
prise If he desires to gather together
his cohorts in that regard we have
register here containing the names of
many who would be glad to cooperate
with him. Many of them are in jail,
but some of them will have served their
times before the next primaries.
1.-THE doctor is paid a salary by
portion of the public by reason of his
skill and learning along theological
lines. The district attorney is paid
salary by the public by reason of his
skill and learning along the lines of the
law The district attorney does not
claim to be an authority on theological
matters"