Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-25
GLOOMY OUTLOOK
FOR THE SPORTS
Pool Room Not to Be Establish
ed at Alexandria.
FAILURE TO SECURE A WIRE
Announcement Disappointing to the
Betting Element.
BENNING PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED
Promoters Were Willing to Build
Line to Baltimore or Even
to New York.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

disappointment Since the closing OF the
pool room at Kenilworth they have not
been able to place their money, except upon
the so-called handbooks in Washington,
and the vigorous prosecution of such per-
sons has put so many of them out OF bust
ness that the sporting men find 1t a diff
cult matter to even get their cash taken by
the few remaining individuals who are TAX
ing chances of getting caught at making
handbooks. 1t has been given out that the
promoters of the pool room at st. Asaph's,
who were forced out of business by Gran
dial Mackey. the prosecuting attorney, were
to begin business within the corporate lin
It's OF this city this spring, but 1t is stated.
their hopes have been blasted by the action
of the Western Union Telegraph Company's
officials in decreeing that no wire to fur
nish the information from the race tracks
can be obtained. This announcement by
the managers of the racing department of
the telegraph company was In the nature
of a complete surprise. 1t was also just as
disappointing as 1t complete. and is
regarded meaning that the betting eie
ment of Washington will continue to expert
ence trouble In their efforts to wager money
the races.
1t Is stated that the managers of the pro-
posed pool room were willing to go to the
expense of building line as far Bal
X,
lay of cash. it is said. would do them no
good. Persons connected with the racing
department of the telegraph company
understood that the furnishing of the in
formation in this section would mean a
renewal of the fight that has been waged
against the pool rooms in Virginia and
Maryland and that the western business of
the company would be jeopardized.
Would Reopen Old Fight.
The opening of a pool room hereabouts,
the telegraph officials knew would open
up the old fight which Crandal Mackey
waged until he closed the pool room at
st. Asaphs. The fact that the room was
to have been located outside the limits of
the county in which Mr.. Mackey has juris-
diction, 1t is asserted. would not have
caused him to remain silent 1t is stated
that it was to be arranged In favor of the
new pool room that Its promoters were not
violating the law and that the local prose-
cutting attorney and the court would be
called upon to construe the law. Even If
the legal ruling should be against them
| they realized that they would probably be
many thousand dollars ahead of the game
before they were forced to close Rumor
| has it they were willing to take the chances
and had made all arrangements for open
| ing the place. That 1t is not doing business
| at this time. it is stated, Is due alone TO
the inability of the promoters to secure a
| wire
| Friends of the promoters do not hesitate
| to say that they think their game has been
| blocked by some high official of the Wash
| ington Jockey Club. 1t is recalled that the
| room at St. Asaph did business several
| years ago during the time the races were
| being run at Benning, and it was about
That time that the first real troubles of
| the pool room people began. The closing
| OF the room was accomplished only after
| Mr. Mackey had conducted long and hard
| legal battle, the sporting element abandon
| ing the case and closing their room when
| they realized that defeat stared them In
| the face 1t after the closing of the
| room al st. Asaph that an effort was made
| TO do business In Maryland on the border
| OF the District. That place is closed and
| will not again be reopened as a pool room.
Refusal Was a Thunderbolt.
The fat refusal OF the Western Union
officials to recognize those who have been
| engaged In promoting the deal which seems
| to have been effectually blocked was a
| thunderbolt. and. it is stated, is the sever
| est disappointment ever experienced by the
| promoters. With matters as they are there
| is said to be nothing left for the sporting
| fraternity to do other than to try other
| lines.
/ Had they succeeded In getting a wire
| and start In business" one of the local
| betting men who has been In the habit of
| patronizng such places said. they would
| have remained in business long enough to
|
| for such reaping seem anything but
| bright at this time.
| In the club rooms both in this CITY and
| In Washington the men who have the money
| and are willing to put 1t up are sorely dis
| appointed at the failure of the combine to
| launch their undertaking and give the bet
| ting people an opportunity to drop their
| money. Heretofore 1t has been thought by
| the rank and file of the followers of the
| races and the hackers of the ponies that
the local sporting men of means could
| compiish almost anything they desired. and
the disappointment at not being able to
get so small a thing telegraph wire is
looked upon as an utter defeat for them.
Opposition of Benning officials.
IF the Benning people are really opposed
| to the pool rooms and doing what they
can to prevent the opening of such places
In this section" local sporting man re-
marked today, II don't blame them. They
are men who are fond of racing for the
sport there is In 1t and certainly there was
nothing sportsmaniike In the pool room
men opening at st. Asaph and conducting
business duriag the Bennins racing
son. /. for one. am glad they received the
Knockout blow"
AS things now stand there Is hardly any
probability that a pool room will be opened
here or elsewhere In this section In the
| near future. The sports will therefore have
to look elsewhere for place where they
can place their money on the horses 1t Is
Sdtu THAT some washington squirting INSIl
were interested in the proposed enterprise
with the Alexandrians who were SO con-
fident that the .,ame could be successfully
worked.
Distribution Of Information.
1t is stated that a firm said to control
the distribution OF racing information in
the east, has been advised that the furnish
Ing of such to pool rooms In the District
of Columbia or the state of Virginia would
be met by trouble. which would mean
renewal of the fight waged against the pool
room at Kenilworth by Allen w. Mallory
and others. 1t is known that that tight
caused more trouble to the telegraph COM
pany and the sporting fraternity than any
other fight that has ever been conducted
against the pool room interests.
Men who are most deeply interested In
the business of backing the horses and
supplying the information. sending the lat
ter over leased wires realize that the pres
ent condition of affairs Is due entirely TO
the fight that was made against Kenilworth
last year. Men who are In u position TO
know admit that the fight caused more
trouble and uneasiness than was ever