New-York tribune., 1908-06-11
SOURCE OF CONSPIRACY.
Tracing the Fake Letters Sent Out
to Defeat Racing Bills.

Proof that there had been a we'll organized
conspiracy with headquarters in this city. to
send forged letters supposedly emanating from
their constituents to Senators who voted for the
Agnew-Hart anti-racetrack gambling bills came
into the possession OF The Tribune yesterday,
and as soon as knowledge Of this fact reached
some of those or less remotely connected
with tho scheme according TO the information OF
The Tribune there were eager denials, referring
to specific facts, combined with admissions OF
the truth of the main assertion.
Il was learned that seveTal mon actively en-
gagged in sending out these letters to various
Senators had been in the habit of making their
headquarters in rooms on the second floor Of
Nc 27 Thames street. These Offices bear Ice
names of Congressman William Sulzer. Henry
Martin and T. Burns. but none of these three
was invcl2ed. according to the story told TO
The Tribune Mr. Sulzer explained yesterday
afternoon that his name on the offices sim
ply because he had storage privileges there
for mail bags and said he knew nothing of the
preparation of any such letters there. He added
that he himself favored tho passage of the rae
ing bills.
Mr. SuIzer then telephoned to Mr.. Burns. ask
ing him if the rooms had been used for any such
purpose, and a few minutes later Mr.. Burns ap-
peared at the offices of The Tribune accompa-
figured in political work. Mr. Burns
cited and first said that Mr.. Sulzer had nothing
to do with the rooms in Thames street, then
that he knew nothing about the letters and,
finally. that no letters had been sent out from
there.
Then Ferrell took a hand in the conversation,
saving he knew that the letters had not been
sent out from these rooms, and that he knew
where they had been sent from. AS a matter
OF fact many of the letters sent to upstate SEN
ators We're distributed to local agents from
headquarters established at a Syracuse hotel,
where the who had general charge OF the
conspiracy stayed for a week
The fact that forged letters had been sent out
was first discovered by Senators Page and Ag-
new. wh) received a number of them so sus-
picious in character that they them down.
Senator Page took hundred letters and found
four of them to bear genuine signatures, While
Senator Agnew in a batch of III found twenty
nine genuine signatures.
These letters were prepared at more
headquarters in New York and to the Sen
ators in various ways. One method was to go
into saloon and enlist the aid of the barkeeper
or proprietor by pointing out the community CT
interest between saloons and the racetrack in
terests Then the saloonkeeper would under
take perhaps for a consideration, 70 get sigma
lures for the letters left With him, which were
collected later.
This scheme worked particularly we'll in the
country districts and some genuine signatures
were 50 obtained from frequenters of the saloons.
Even if the genuine sigma lures could not be OBJ
t..ned however, the local celebrities of the dis
trict were known in the saloons, and IN some
Wav these names appeared on letters, and turned
cut to be forgeIies on investigation.
A number of negroes have been engaged in
the work. and one was in general charge of the
operations in New York County. He is not
Tammany man, but is well known politically,
and seems to have done his work well, except
for a slight careessness in covering up his
tracks Many New York City letters. for in
stance were mailed at one time at the Wall
street postofice and easy to identify as
from a common source.
TIE information obtained by The Tribune is in
the hands also of Governor Hughes and his sup
norters The scheme seems to have reacted on
its originators for votes have been changed
a. a result of the letters and il was desperate
q chance that it seems to show that the gam
bling interests are fearful of the result of the
vote IN the Senate to-day.