The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-24
Louisiana Senate En- dorSesLocke Measure.
BITTER FIGHT MARKED CLOSE
Serious Charges and Counter-
 charges Were Made.
The Racing Factiea were Charged With Usins A1xsoek-outv Drops
 to Keep Senators Away from Capitol.


 campaign lasting several months. the close of which was marked by a bitter fight. the so-called anti-racing bill was this afternoon passed by the Louisiana State Senate. The bill passed tha House several weeks ago. and now only requires the signature of the Governor to become a law. There appears no doubt that Governor Sanders win sign the bill immediately.
 The bill passed by vote of 2t to 10. It required 2i votes to get through the Senate and the last twenty-four hours before it's passage were marked by desperate and finally successful effort to muster the necessary strength.
 One Senator was found to De suf- fering from some form of poisoning. and another. who had committed him. self in favor of the bill. did not show up. Several physicians were put to work on the ailing member. and two New Orleans reporters were sent scur- rying in a high power automobtle through the Louisiana marshes en niney- mile trip after the one that was absent. Both of these Senators were nnally gotten on the floor and added to the nineteen already present. made the twenty-one votes necessary to carry the bill through. For an hour or more prior to the final passage Of the
 
 bate was tndulged In by the members of the body. Senator LAbbe charged that the racing faction had used "knock-out drops" 70 keep Senators away from their sworn duty and charges and counter-charges followed. The passage of the bill was greeted with storm of applause.
 Denies the Report.
 The Senator whose illness caused tho charges Of poisoning to be made wna J. s. Smar, of Desoto Parish. Altar Senator Labbes' statement about knock < out drops had been made. Senator Smart. despite his weakness, addressed the Senate, saying that there was abao- 1utelv no Foundation for the reports that poison had caused his attack. He said he was subject to such attacks. senator Labbe then explained that his charge as to knock yout drops had not referred to Dr. smart in particulAr and that it was not to be interpreted literally. He spoke. he said. In ng~ urative sense. intending to show tho sort of methods the racing interests had used.
 Senator settoon. of Livingston Par ish, the absentee who was searched koT with an automobile. was delayed on account of change fin train schedules. When he missed the train on which ho had intended to come to Baton h0u9a yesterday. he had to wait twenty-fonx hours for another train.
 With the exception of one vacancy due to death the full membership Of the Senate was present when the vote was taken. One vote gained by the race track interests or even che failure of one of the Locke Dill sup porters to vote would have defeated the bill. The tension was. therefore. ex~ treme as the roll was called. Twice Af sUh had been reported doubtful was cat1ea, ana 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 call progressed. Then the name of Smart, one of the storm centers oe the days debate was called III and scarcely able to remain in his seat hiz presence recalled vlvidly the recent rcll call Op racing A New York Though weak of voices Wis "aye" pene- trated the chamber and was greeted with wild cheering. From then on until the end of the roll call the result was practically sure.
 Only Real Performers.
 remarkable feature of the closing days face of the struggle has been tho attitude of the race track interests who represented themselves as being the only real performers of racing. They claimed that since the Locke Dill Is admitted by it's supporters to per- init individual betting. racing would continue with it's evil phases more cn- noxious than ever. The Locke blia reads as follows:
 Be 1t enacted by the general as- sembly of the state of Louisiana that any person who either as an agent owner, official or employe shall In any room, hall, house or any enclosure or upon any track. path, road or course, whether within or without an enclo- sure In this state, engage in encour- aging, promoting. aiding or aSaistin& In the operation of betting book, or A French mutual pooling device. upon any kind of a horse race or races or in selling auction pools upon any horse race or shall by any other device en- courage, promote, aid or assist any person or persons to bet or wager upon a horse race or races run or trotted or paced within this state or elsewhere. shail be guilty of a mlsdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor mora than five hundred dollars and imprison- ed for a period of not less than six months nor more than l2 months"
 Most of the Locke bill supporters contend this measure will stop all races except those at county fairs.
 The Locke bill will become a law hirty days after formal Announce