New-York tribune., 1908-03-05
CHAMBER PACKED AGAIN
4NTI-G4MBLING HERRING.
Blacks Dramatic PIea-CredH Bet
ting Proposed.
rBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune.I

rBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune.I
Albany. March 1.-Two things made notable
the second hearing the Agnew-Hart anti
racetrack gambling bills before Senate and As
semblv Codes committees tO-day-a proposition
advanced by the Jockey Club that system of
credit betting with money passing hands at
the track be sanctioned by Legislative enact
ment and the appearance of Ex-Governor Frank
s Black as an apologist for gambling
passion implanted by God in the breasts of
mankind.
The proposal of the Jockey Club. submitted
by Joseph S. Auerbach is that the Legislature,
instead Of passing the Asnew-Hart bills aboI-
ishing racetrac!1 betting and making it punish
able like betting in a poolroOm, legalize betting
at the tracks by a system where the book
makers shall take no money. squaring losses and
winnings off the tracks at some clearing
house" This he said, would result in a great
restriction Of betting" minimizing greatly the
present evils Supporters Of the bills called
this suggestion a concession wrung from the
Jockey Club by knowledge of the sentiment
behind the Governors position.
Ex-Governor Black scheduled to attack
the constitutionalty of the proposed legisla-
tiOn. He regarded the star speaker for
the opponents of the bills and to him they
pinned their faith. His speech, while in small
part a discussion of the cOnstitutiOnality of the
AgneW Hart measures. resolved lJS%eII INTO a
consummately clever plea to a jury-an address
which. because of its brillianCe and shrewdness.
carried his audience with him.
He began by announcing that after ne had
talked for two minutes he expected to have no
audience save the committees. If he had real
ized that expectation, surely sadder man
would have been in Albany tonight, for al
most every word he spoke, save those remarks
addressed to members of the committee by
name was aimed straight at the galleries and
delivered while he gazed directly into the faces
of his auditors
EX-GOVERNOR BLACKS ARGUMENT.
His argument summarized. practically
Gambling is inherent in human nature II is
not wrong otherwise God would not have be-
slowed this passion mankind. This legisa-
ton is aimed at one form of gambling To be
logical the law should prohibit all forms or
none. If all were prohibited, the girl betting
box of candy on her brothers college football
team would have to go TO Jail for year.
And YOU Mr.. Father. you, Mrs. Mother; you,
Mr.. Brother could not stop it." he shouted, ges-
turing toward the thronged galleries. NO fine
would suffice The bills expressly say one year
in the county Jail or penitentary.
Some clever manipulation done to en-
able Mr Black to get the last word. In vio-
lation Of the usual custom. the opposition 10
ne prOpOSPd legislation opened IIle nearing dIl1
got an allowance of fifteen minutes at the end
for rebuttai This was allotted TO Mr.. Black.
He talked for an hour. When, finally, he had
ended. greeted by burst of applause like that
given 70 = matinee idol. Louis Marshall, chief
sneaker for The bills. jumped to his feet In
rage.
Mr.. Chairman. when It announced that
fifteen minutes would he given to the opposition
for replv" he shouted. y asked for five min
utes at the end Mr Black has talked no"
for an hour This is fair play-maybe for the
racetracks I now withdraw my request Tor
time 10 answer him. He has answered himself
,nIael, Of him is that he read the stenographic
notes of his own speech. Then if he doesn
ti,,s, for himself III blush for him.
RATNEs AND wADsWORTH STAND.
This hearing vas even larger than the one
hold TWO weeks age Every available inch of
..cs in the Assembly Chamber and galleries
vas filed Senator Raines. majority leader 81
tho urper house and Speaker WadsWorth stood
bebind the Speakers desk most of the hFe
hours urable.to find room for chairs. MIS-
v-adsworth and a group of friends held recep-
tion in the Speakers room. which with HVeiy
talk and gay gowns resembled corner Oh lhe
clubhouse on Futurity Day.
August Belmont and F. h. Sturgis. secretary
treasurer of the Jockey Club, headed Dig deie-
e,arion Of horsemen ana racetrack ioIio"VtS'
which pre-empted q large part of the chamDer
and applauded vociferousy Almost as hu-
,,arous we're the clergymen who advocated the
IN. conservatives Of business mems asso-
Citations favoring them and collection OF agFl-
cuIturalists who appeared in behalf or the APP
,,r,f,riation for the county fair societies
Considerable bitterness between the sides AMI
between some Of the Legislators and advocates
of the, measures Was APPARENT Thus several %
The Jockey Club speakers delivered taunts-
onca or twice rather tuitous-about the min
listers who were urging the passage Of the
Acueys-Hart legislation. which in turn drew
sharp retorte Legislators who tried To emhar-
rass the speakers for the measures almost IN
ya,iabIy got the worst Of It.
QUICK RETORT FOR GILCHRIST.
Iahn II. Brosan, 10 the Buffalo Civic League.
tcniinied third page.