The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-19
SAYS He MAY SUE DR.. SLICER.
SECRETARY or REFORM BUREAU
PITCHES INTO DOANE, TOO.

DeSefuOn OF inc CaS8luy AnusG NfnDhnE
Bill Anglers tho Rev. A. 8, GFegg-Ob-
Jects TO the Charge That the Measure
Was Meant TO Aid New York POOlrOOm1
ALBANY. March 1s.-There Is a great
deal Of feeling here among the ministers
over the action Of Bishop Doane in with
drawing his support from the Cassidy
Lansing anti-raoe gambling bill. The
matter may be discussed at the ministers
meeting which will he held in the Y. M. c. A.
building Monday forenoon. The Rev.
A. s. Gregg, field secretary of the Inter-
national Reform Bureau, is still here. He
expects to make Albany his headquarteH
for SOM time. He keenly resents the ac-
ousation made by DR.. Slicer that the bill
originated with the poolrooms and that he
and hiF associates are the tools Of New York
gamblers. Touching the action Of Bishop
Doane. he said:
u personally arranged for the joint hear
ing on the Cassidy-Tansing bill, which was
fixed for Wednesday. March IA. As soon
az this date was agreed upon plans were
laid for the anti-gambling mass meeting,
held in the Calvary Baptist Church, Tues
day evening, March a.. AS the active
manager OF the forces supporting the bill.
/ had charge Of the mass meeting and
OF the hearings. ] asked an Albany pastor
TO suggest Il good nan for hartman of
the mass meeting. He named Bishop
Doane. lasked one Of the Bishops personal
friends, with whom had become acquainted,
to extend the invitation. This was done
verbally Thursday, March l..
THE message brought was that he would
preside at mass meeting If his health per-
mitted, and that he would also speak at the
hearing in support of the bill. Extensive
press and pulpit announcements were made
OF the arrangements. On Monday, however,
l was informed that the Bishop denied
having promised to preside. He was willing
to speak at the hearing, hut his physician
had ordered him not to leave the house.
I called on him Monday. March g. and after
conversation asked him to write a
letter which I could read at the mass meet
ing the following night. He did, and |
received the letter Tuesday morning. A
little after noon of the same day, March 8,
| received n note from the Bishop by mes
senger asking for the return of his letter
of Endorsement. He asked that a state
ment be made that his name had been
as presiding officer under a
nlsapprenenslon.
Il am not sure. hut | think he
also said in his letter that he did not
consider himself well enough informed
on this subject to commit himself. re-
turned his letter with 4 note asking him TO
allow me TO use it, because its withdta wal
placed ME in :. position which would be marc
to explain.
at appears that Bishop Doane changed
his mind very suddenly. He wrote the letter
of approval March 5, and recalled it the
next day. In a letter to an Albany clergy
man the Bishop quotes extensively from
the letter written to him by DR.. Slicer,
in which the origin Of the bill is attributed
to the New York ~poolrooms. This state
ment had great influence with the Bishop,
and seems to have been the principal cause
OF his change Of attitude. He did not ask
me for any explanation, although he knew
was in the city and could be reached by
a messenger. l do not think the Bishop
was absolutely fair in withdrawing his sup
port on the mere assertion OF DR.. Slicer
giving me an opportunity to be
on the subject of collision with pool
rooms. This charge on the part Of DR..
Slicer is 80 serious that l have been thinking
Of instituting against him a suit for dam
ages.
THE argument of DR.. Slicer that the
should be allo owed special privileges in
the matter Of gambling is anarohistic.
before the law is the bed rock Of a
stable government. The moment that
special privileges are sanctioned all law en-
forcement is weakened. Poolrooms exist
because the special penalty for race
gambling has practically destroyed respect
for all the gambling laws. 1t is claimed
that gambling canno be stopped Inc
hat is undoubtedly true, but those who per-
sist in gambling should be compelled to do
70 as social outoasts and criminals. The
avs against theft and murder do not stop
those crimes entirely, but no sensible person
would advocate that such crimes be 'regu-
ated,' by providing an exclusive penalty
lnder which the rich might kill and steal
without fear Of punishment. The only way
o regulate n rattlesnake is to cut his head
If. and the only sensible way to regulate
gambling is to make the gambling laws uni
orm so that all who gamble are felons,
With no discrimination between the we'll to
10 turfmnn and the common pamhlar