The evening world., 1908-02-20

humorous touch to the proposed re-
form was contributed by the representa-
I tives of a score of poolrooms who came
along 10 see the fun. The spectacle or
these artisans hohnobbing with gentle
men OF the cloth and urging them TO
soak 1t to them was not appreciated
as much by the ministers as it was by
the fellows who play the races.
Poolroom Man Happy.
One citizen who has earned a living
as lookout" in a poolroom in Twenty
fourth street. not far from Broadway.
was most conspicuous among the oppo-
nents OF race track betting. He was
guyed by the race track crowd who
have trequented his place. but got back
by saying:
This is our day on earth. You fel-
lows are on the toboggan. Wen be
doing business at the old stands when
you're out Of business. You'll have to
come to us to make yor bets after this.
We're the real people"
The 1850 people who crowded the
Assembly chamber We're as much inter
ested in the personalities of the big
bugs in the racing game as they Were
in the scrap between them and the high
collared gentlemen who regard pinochle
as a crime. They gazed with awe at
the veteran James b. Haggin, who. spry
in his eighty-four years. did not miss a
word of the verbal battle. They wanted
to see James K. keene, who showed he
could make very good speech in spite
of his reputation as "a silent man"
They didn't believe their infornants.
who told them the under-s ized man
with funny little 75-cent slouch hat
was August Belmont. until they heard
him admit the fact. They regarded
Phil Dwyer with consuming interest.
and told stories about the famous o.d
"Dwyer string OF twenty years ago.
Some More "Bis Ones"
Harry Payne Whitney came in for
lot of attention. 50 did young r. T.
Wilson, ir.. Andrew Miller James S.
Metcalf, Chris Fitzgerald. Sam Taylor.
Cornelius Fellows, and the venerable
Mayor Johnston, of Lexington. Ky,
Where raising race horses is the pr.n-
clpal industry.
Senator Christie sullivan and the
Long McCarren. of Brooklyn, did the
honors for the racing men. TAev he'd
a reception in the back of the cham er
and steered their distinguished CON
tyeres 20; the turf.
The min s;ers we're absolutely over
ooked. The contingent wAicA reth7hs
mat period Of tac year as holiday!
except when one Of the seven tracks IN
ne State Is In operation. were inclined
TO regard the reverend gentlemen as
enemies Of soclety-''outters-in, as one
OF them phrascd it.
Most Of the members Of the two
houses in iorsed this view # the ad-
yocates Of the Anu-Betting bill. some
Of them. who are afraid of the reform
crusade, assured the race track fellows
Of their sympathy, even though they
admitted they could not afford to vote
against the bills because OF local CON
G!t!9ns.
The representatives OF county fairs
who secure slice ii the revenues ac-
cruing from the tax on racing receipts
were nearly as indignant as the regu-
lar followers Of The game. They seemed
to snare the resentment Of the latter
against the reform agents VINO IA
vurcd the bills.
Ore Silent Fighter"
That's d good game tnis reform
stunt. SAL "A sacet-wr.'er VINO srow.od
II iu. reverend enemy, "aui / wish
.ld goIr into IL. II il cn.!p. tliu
plck.ul winners. Knocking t4e other
fellows game is more profitable than
one Of the most Interesting c1arac-
,crS a. the hearing was not heard Tie
sat umons the ministers aud ad..sud
pl .Hng forehead Ee attracted lot OF
attention and ull".ru+.t i.uk~ This
N'- ROY. +. {. 'irrsF the .t'eid score
L.. ..H.H. |..H