Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-03-03
ASK HUGHES FOR NAME
New York SoIons Want to Know
Who Wrote "GambIer" Letter.
GOVERNOR is CRITICISED.
Members Unanimously Demand That
He Disclose Identity Of Person Who
Wrote That Racing interests Would
Buy of the Legislature.

Wrote That Racing interests Would
Buy OF the Legislature.
Albany, \. Y, March 3.-The unan-
unity with which the assembly adopt
ed a resolution calling upon Governor
Hughes for the name of plain gam
bier" who wrote him concerning the
antirace track bills marked the be-
ginning of the second battle for SUI
premacy between the governor and leg
islature. Pretty nearly the same forces
that defeated the governors recon.
mendation for the removal of Superin-
tendent of Insurance Kelsey were back
of the race track challenge. The in
spiration Of it was the following let
ter which the governor caused to be
given out for publication among other
communications indorsing the race
track bills:
let me say to you that 1 am and
have been for years plain gambler.
While l admit that the bookmaker, the
trainer and many others are sure thing
gamblers and admit that it is the worst
kind of a brace game, We don't intend
to let you stop it.
"You may put up 100000 strong ar
guments, and we will beat you by put
ting up 100000 stronger arguments.
Your members are already hanging out
signs of distress. 1t takes less time
to kill it in committee than in either
house, and that's what we are to play
for. Now, governor, we are going to
send that antiracing bill to the bow
vows, and your committee in the legis-
lature will do it too. Watch and see."
Members of the legislature were
greatly exercised over the publication,
and when the assembly met Mr.. Ham
mond, acting majority leader, offered
the following resolution:
Whereas, 1t appears by the public press
that the governor of this state has re-
ceived and is in possession Of a letter ad-
dressed to him by an alleged gambler
stating in effect that 1t is the intention
of the opponents of the so called anti
racing bills to defeat the same In the
legislative committees having jurisdiction
thereof and the Legislature by the use OF
money and that the members of the leg
islature have already indicated that they
are subject to influences Of such charac-
ter; now be it
Resolved, That Hon. Charles E. Hughes
governor, be and hereby is respectfully
requested to transmit said letter or n
copy thereof and any other letters or
copies thereof of a similar character rel
ative to said subject matter, together with
a statement as to his knowledge or in
formation as to the identity and respon-
sibility of the authors thereof, to the as
sembly for the information Of said legis-
lative committee and the legislature.
Mr.. Palmer, the Democratic leader,
moved the adoption of the resolution.
In handing up the resolution Mr.. Ham
mond said:
Attacks of all kinds have been made
against the members of this house, and
they have usually gone unnotlced. But
this attack is out Of the ordinary in
that the governor of the state has seen
fit to give it publication throughout the
length and breadth of the state. Before
making public this letter he must have
its authenticity and the
of the writer. The as
sembly should not permit this matter !
to go unnoticed. 1t is entitled to have |
a copy Of that letter, to know who /
wrote it, who and what the man is. |
We should have not only this docu- |
ment, but any other Of like nature In |
the possession OF the governor"
Minority Leader Palmer in support
ing the resolution said that II was not |
the first time the house had been as
sailed publicly. when" he remarked,
"a man thrusts another and does IL
over his own signature, he is doing
that is manly. But when a
secret and covert attack is made upon
his body we should resent II. II we
ion't. we must concede that the charge
S true. / am surprised that the execu-
i've OF the state should he the medium
through which the charge is made. The
'eport to which he has given currency
s slanderous. IL has been said that a
nan who repeats a charge Is as guilty
Is the man who utters IT, and he
ihouId be responsible TO the person or
,ersons injured"
What do you propose to do after
rou have received the letter. asked
Wainwright
I'VE propose 10 find out who the
landerer is" replied Palmer II
I'VE had one experience trying to I
end a man TO jail" responded Vain
wright. "and the attempt came to a
idiculous ending. This resolution
lOesn't lead anywhere. We can't do
nything after we get his name"
Il suppose not IL the report is true
etorted Palmer. Il assume that il isn't
rue
The resolution was then put TO a
'ote. and not a voice was raised in OF
'osition 10 Il. The senate took no ac-
ion. as the adoption of the resolution