The Washington herald., 1908-04-05
GAMBLING NEARS END
Albany Recalls Killing Ofan
Important Bill.
SENATORS PLACED ON RECORD
Three Needed to Turn the Tide.
Fight Locked Upon as Hopeless
One-Fats OF Former sOIon, WhO
Avoided Going on Record, Told.
Twenty-eight in Favor OF Bill.

Albany, April 4.-There is no preee-
dent in legislative history from which
the gamblers lobby can extract COM
fort in this hour OF certain defeat
Early in the week they recalled the
exploit of defeating a famous bill a
few years ago and thought they could
turn the same trick In the case of the
anti-race track gambling bills. Now
they know they cannot.
In that case the lobby had to Sc
cure one man. In this hght they need
three.
Then the lobby nailed their man
before there was vote. and he avoided
going on record until the call of the
house on the fnal vote. In the gam
bling fight twenty Eight senators are
on record in support of the bills.
Ia the former case the one man who
defeated the bill became an object Of
suspicion and contempt and dropped
out of public life. His fate is not for
gotten in Albany.
The Deciding Vote.
The killing of this bill a few years ago
IS recalled frequently in conversations in
connection with the anti-gambling legis-
laton, and it's details are pertinent now.
The legislation then pending was strong
y demanded by the public and the gov
ernor. and resisted by powerful corpo-
rate interests. A certain Republican SEN
ator. who may be called X, in this
recital, managed to avoid going on record
as TO his attitude. either in interviews or
on the various roll calls that led up to
the final vote
On the call Of the senate, when the bin
was on order OF final passage, Senator
Y. was apparently busy writing at his
desk, and did not answer his name. The
measure received twenty-five votes, lack
ing one of passage
Senator Raines made a beeiine for Sen
ator ks desk, ana stood by him during
the call for absentees.
Senator McCarren had sprinted to the
other side Of Senator X, who sat huddled
up in his chair, his eyes on the floor. and
Long Pat got his ear
Senator Y this time responded No -
and the bill was killed. Raines turned on
his heel, x. practically collapsed in his
seat,
SUNK Out of senate,
Presently the man who killed the bill
pulled himself together and with a dazed
expression on his face skunk away to his
hotel, leaving his hat and coat in his
locker.
He was never seen in the capitol after
that until one day about a year later,
when he bUtted into a group in the cor
ridor while a politician was telling Sen
ator Stevens that he would like to see
his stock farm
stop of when you are up that way"
said Stevens cordially. "and I'll show you
around the place.
Il would like to see your farm too,
said y, edging into the circle.
*, said Stevens sternly. wheeling
about and looking the man in the face.
Il have a fine duck pond on my place.
and If YOU ever set foot on the place III
take pleasure in throwing you into the
pond"
ks eyes fell and he skunk away He
has never shown his face in Albany since
that day. lie Is looking after a little
business upstate, a broken and hopeless
man.
* fate is too vividly remembered for
the lobby to readily believe that there is
enough money in all the bookmakers'
rolls put together 10 buy three senators
10 defeat the anti-gambing bills