The Prescott daily news., 1908-06-25
MEASURE PASSES
Anti-Racing Bill Prevails In the
 Louisiana Senate.
MAJORITY IS A SMALL ONE.
Passage Marked by Scenes Quite Sen. sational and Somewhat Acrimoni- the Vote.

saUonai anu d SOmeWnat ACrtmone-
 ous Debate Occnrs Just Previous to
 the Vote.
 Baton Rouge, June 25.-After a cam paign lasting several months, the close of which was marked by a bitter fight, the so-called Locke anti-racing bill was Tuesday afternoon passed by the sen ate. The bill passed the house several weeks ago, and now only requires the signature of the governor to become law. There appears to be no doubt that Governor Sanders will sign the bill imm ediately.
 The bill passed by vote of 21 to 19 It required twenty-one votes to get through the senate, and the last twen. ty-four hours before its passage were marked by desperate and finally successful effort to muster the neces- sary strength. One senator was found 10 De suffering from some form of poi sonlng, and another who had commit ted hlmself In favor of the bill did not snow up. Several physicians were put to work on the ailing member. and two New Orleans reporters were sent scurrying in a high power automobile through marshes on a nnety-mile trip after the one who was absent Both of these senators were finally gotten on the floor and, added to the nineteen already present, made the twenty-one votes necessary to carry the bill A minute or so previous to final of hA h
 what bitter debate was indulged in by members of the body. Senator Labbe's charged that the racing element had used knockout drops" to keep sena- tors away from their sworn duty. and charges and counter-charges followed.
 The passage of the bill was greeted with storm of applause. The bill prohibits bookmaking, pari mutual ma chimes or gambling in any form on races
 The senator whose illness caused the charges of poisoning to be made was J. $. Shart of DeSoto parish Aft CT Senator Labbes' statement about knockout drops had been made. Sena. tor Smart, despite his weakness. ad. dressed the senate, saying that there was absolutely no foundation for the reports that any person had caused any attack. He said he was subject | to such attacks. Senator Labbes then | explained that his charge as to knock out drops had not referred to Dr. Smart in particular, and that it was not to be interpreted literally. He spoke. he said. in figurative sense, intending to show the sort of moth. l nd otv t~Aa
 Senator Selton of Livingston parish, the absentee who was searched for in an automobile. was delayed on ac. count of change in train schedules. When he missed the train on which he intended to come to Baton Rouge he had to wait twenty-four hours for another train.
 With the exception of one vacancy. due to death. the full membership of the senate wsa present when the vote was taken. One vote gained by the race track interests, or even the fail. ure of one of the Locke bill support. CTS to vote would have defeated the bill. The tension was, therefore, ex- | treme as the roll was called.
 Twice the name of a senator consid- | cred doubtful was called and each time that senator voted against the bill. These two senators were T. J. Davis of Vernon parish and H. C. Drew of Calcasieu. Their votes against the bill left the measure on the sheer verge of defeat as the roll progressed. Then the name of Smart, one of the storm centers of the days debate. was called. III and scarcely able to re, main in his seat, his presence recalled vividly the recent roll call on racing in New York. Though weak of voice, 1 his aye" penetrated the chamber, and was greeted with wild cheering From then on until the end of the roll call the result was practically sure. A remarkable feature of the closing days of the struggle has been the atti- tude of the race track interests, who represented themselves as the only reformers of racing. They claimed that since the Locke bill Is admitted by it's supporters to permit individual betting racing would continue with its wild phases more obnoxious than ever
 The bill becomes law thirty days after being signed by the governor.