The Washington times., 1907-07-28
REFORMERS Bet;
QUADRILLE WINS,
BUT THEY DON 7
Police Save HandbookS
From $4,000 and
They're Joyful.

One of the saddest, most piteous stor-
les ever revealed by a reform crusade
was that which came to light last night
in discussion of the driving OF the
hanobooks out of Washington.
This is a story OF how an attempt to
save the coin OF the horny y-handed sons
Of toll OF the District of Columbia from
the warbags of the nImble gamblers Of
this city resulted in great profit to a
man who suddenly decided never to live
here any more, and also saved the
aforesaid priests of the tickle goddess
or chance the tidy sum Of about $1,000.
Had the powers that be allowed the
handDO0kS 10 run unmCleSted until yes
terday the followers Of the horses would
nave largely eradicated the betting evil
In the National Capital by the simple
process Of breaking all the literary men
whose speciality is writing on slips that
can be easily concealed the names of
horses and sums Of money, as was the
case two years ago, when Gravina and
The Colonel won and left only one book
doing business the next day.
Red Hot Tips Floated.
On Thursday a letter was received by
one Of the right people" here that a
killing would be put through Friday.
Quadrille in the first race at Brighton
Beach and Flavigny in the fifth race at
the same track were TO be the mediums
Tor acquiring easy money. IL was genu-
Inc stable information from a man who
slept with the horses, and the owner
was going the limit. The word was
spread to get aboard and help suppress
the nefarious pencilers by absorbing
their bankroIls
This sounded SO good and came from
such straight source that a certain
class OF strong union people with the
interests OF the public at heart deter
mined to do their share toward helping
Major Sylvester remove temptation
from the path Of poor but reckless de-
partment people who will insist upon
hacking the bangtails, even though they
thereby endanger their normal welfare
and their civil service jobs. 1t was u
lofty. laudable, and noble purpose upon
the part of the pUblic-spirited crafts
men who decided to accept the tip.
A pool Of 500 was raised and the man
VINO got the letter was sent forth 10 de-
molish the local books. He returned
presently with the information that so
completely had Major Sylvester and mis-
trusty henchmen cowed the professional
gamblers of Washington that he could
get down no more than 500 in hand
book.
On to the Bitter End.
This was sad news and enough 10
discourage ordinary reformers, but the
Washington subscribers to the pool
were made of sterner stuff. They had
started on a crusade against the enc
mics of the savings accounts, and they
would carry II to the bitter end. With
the true resourcefulness Of indomitaDle
will they solved the problem by send
ing the man with the money TO put 4
down at the track, and thereby show
that, although sneeringly referred to as
fn ~, ..~tF
the Capital has a long arm for good.
The messenger was dispatched, and on
Friday night the racing returns were
eagerly scanned, for many others had
oeen let IN on the snap, and there was
at least 1000 more here that would
have been sent into the books had not
an efficient detective force chased them
to the woOds-and Maryland
Great was the JOY when 1t was found
that Quadrille had opened at 30 to l
and been hammered to a closing price
OF 10 TO ], while Flavigny had opened at
10 to l and closed at 10 l Even at
Ihe closing prIce $50 on each horse, 10
win, which were the instructions. would
net S3,40O. Presuming the agent WAS
fairly energetic in carrying out his
moral mission. the returns should be at
least $4,000 Many were the frothy
bumpers drunk to reform, and all the
subscribers to the pool announced that
they would continue their campaign
until Thirty had been written on
try.
Then came the awakening. Yesterday
morning there was received by one Of
the leading lights of the pool a letter
enclosing a money order for $500. In II
was the explanation that the messen-
ger, Ike Phaeton, had failed in a great
attempt, and had not been able TO get
the money down. He added that hs
was real sorry about It. that it grieved
his soul to see the boolSies still flourish
ing like the green bay tree-and that
he would not return TO Washington for
quite some timei
Far be II from any member Of such a
glorious band 10 impugn the word of a
fellow worker In a good cause but Il
must be admitted that II the messenger
were to return TO Washington ne woTIa
be asked by all of those who could get
TO him why he did not place that money.
In the meantime, the wicked shout
derisively- The Washington handbook
men figure that they saved something
like $4,000 which VIII come In handy
when Benning Opcns. and are warmly
conKratulating Major Sylvester upon
his success in making them afraid to