The San Francisco call., 1909-01-29
Debate on Racing Bill Marked
by Charges Against Men
of Cloth
0tis=WaIker Measure Loses in
Committee After Three
Hours of Discussion
Horse Owners Cite Profits TO
County in Defense of
Track
[Special Dispatch to The CaiIl

y ALL HEADQUARTERS CHAM
BIER OF COMMERCE BUILDING,
- SACRAMENTO, Jan. 1s-That
the percentage Of crime among min
listers Of the gospel was greater than
among men in any other walk in life
was the astounding attack on the
morals Of the Protestant clergy of the
United States made by Thomas H. Will
mams. president Of the California
Jockey club, and which overshadowed
every other feature of the public hear
ing on the anti-racetrack bill in the
senate tonight.
Williams Scores Clergy
p AT the conclusion Of a three hours
debate replete, with excitement VIII
iiams. reused to unconcealed- anger by
the questions put to him by Rev. Frank
Baker of Sacramento, and other lay
and clerical opponents of the racetrack.
declared that the percentage Of crime
!, smong preachers was greater than
among men in any other walk of life.
To support this contention he produced.
a book Of criminal statistics. which he
fled with the chairman Of the commit
tee on public morals
Il have the greatest respect for the
honest men of your cIoth." declared
Williams, advancing toward Rev. MIR.
Baker, 'sbuf I want TO say that, putting
aside the Catholic priesthood and the
Jewish rabbis. there arc more crimes
-..,......s.s,a L. ..,fns.so,.s .,-racr,ers
call fhem-than by any other men in
fhls country. They are guilty of muir
der. train robbery, embezzIement and all
other crimes. including some which 1
viii not mention here in the presence OF
ladies. Here are the figures that prove
ID. and I want 10 submit them 10 the
chairman Of this committee
When The public hearing had reached
SITS climax in this startling. unexpected
manner the committee retired into ex-
ecutive session and without waste of
time or words reported adversely on
the Walker-Otis racetrack bill by
vote of 3 to ,. Senators Weed, Leavitt
and Wolfe voted against the bill, while
Senators Kennedy and Savage voted
for it, 1t viii go to the senate tomor-
row morning.
Senate Chamber Packed
The senate chamber was packed
when the public hearing began Men
and women were crowded into the gall
lery. the lobby and senate floor so
thickly that only standing room was
available for half the spectators.
Arguments against racetrack gamb-
-Rng and pool selling were made by
Archibald J. Treat, representing the
Anti -poolroom league OF Marin county
and by Arthur Let's and Louis r. Car
rett Of the Businessmen's anti-race-
track league Of southern California.
They presented arguments based on
the crimes that are caused by losses at
the racetaracks and spoke good words
Tor the old time races that hourished
without the poolrooms and the book
makers.
Barney Schneider. a well known
racing man, delighted the crowd with
his breezy defense Of the track. He
told his life history from the time of
his arrival in tlfis country, a poor
German boy. to the present time that
finds him the owner of 500 thorough
breds.
Defends Racing Game
"why are all the embezzlements
charged TO the racetrack?" he de-
manded. There are no millionaire
book makers. but there are millionaire
bucket shop men and stock brokers
Stock brokers pass the plate in fash
ionable churches, but the book makers
don't pass the plate on Sunday. They
haven't the gall to do it. King Ed
ward is the biggest sport in the world
and he owns race horses. Yet he is
the protector Of the faith. If the
Y. NJ C. A. had as good man for
president as Mr.. Williams it would be
all right"
+. J. Stoer, town trustee Of Emery
Vile, followed with figures to show
how much money would be lost if the
facetrack is closed He said that for
the 500 horses stabbed at Emeryville
during the racing season $4,000 worth
Of straw. $4,000 Of oats and $4,000 of
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