The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-06-19
DRAMATIC FIGHT WON
BY GOVERNOR HUGHES
Ends Gambling at Racstracks b
s Vote Of rs to rs.

Albany, N. Y. Especially ~ After
a struggle, the precise like of which
no man in or about the Legislature
has ever seen or expects to see again,
the famous Agnew-Hart Anti-race-
track Gambling Bills are now laws
Of the State of New York. Governor
Hughes by his signature affixed to
each Of the bills at 4.35 P. M. crown
ed legislative victory, the brilliancy
of which, eQualed only by it's un-
expectedness, is conceded even by
those who fought him in the matter
to the last ditch and beyond.
The annals of legislation in this
State may be searched in vain for a
day like this. The decisive votes,
which passed the bills, were cast by
Senator Otto G.. Foelker, of the
Fourth Senate district of Brooklyn,
who crawled from a sick bed and
made 60-mile railroad journey to
do it, SO weak and distressed in mind
and body that he seemed on the
verge of utter collapse. and by new
senator, William G. Wallace, of Mag
ara Falls, who was elected at spec
| ial election in the campaign preced-
ing which the Governor himself
toured the district speaking in be-
half of his election.
Senator Foelker, who underwent
an operation May 10 for appendicitis,
and whose condition for much of the
intervening time was critical, came
up from Staatsburg, the journey of
so miles being severe tax upon his
strength. He was somewhat strong
err, and was taken sto the Senate
| chamber just as the roll-call on a
dilatory motion was being taken.
He was plainly suffering from weak
ness, and his response when his
name was reached was scarcely audi
BILE.
Up to the very last moment the
opposition to the bills entertained
| hope that the measures would fail.
Rumors flew thick and fast that
Foelker had collapsed, and that some
other senator who formerly voted for
the bills had been induced to
switch" There was even the re-
port of an attempt in some desperate
way to prevent Senator Foelker's
presence at the critical moment.
Every step of his progress from his
home to his seat in the Senate cham
Der was guarded, but, as the event
proved, nothing of the kind was at
tempted.
Senator Foelker's appearance in
the chamber was greeted with vol
ley of handclapping, which was stern
ly suppressed after moment by
Lieutenant Governor Chanler in the
chair, who threatened that if it was
repeated he would have the floor and
galleries cleared. On both the roll
calls on the final passage he voted
with the majority.
Senator Foelker expects to return
to the home of his father-in-law at
Staatsburg, where for a month he
has been confined to his bed, recover
| ing from an operation for Appendix
citis on May 10. Francis N. Murphy,
of Staatsburg, his physician, who ac-
companied his now famous patient
from Staatsburg to the Senate cham
Der, visited Governor Hughes at the
executive chamber. He said he call
ed merely to pay his respects. He
confirmed the impression of all OBJ
servers that the senator could hard
ly have endured another moment of
the excitement amid which his vote
was cast. He said that the anxiety
and nervousness of his patient I'M
doubleday had retarded his recovery,
but admitted that he was better, and
expressed the belief that, while the
ordeal had been very trying, Senator
| Foelker had not been permanently
injured by his experience.