The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1916-01-15
A LETTER FROM Mr.. WILDER r.
CRAFTS ON RACING IN LOUISIANA
70 the Ifess OF Louisiana /.

publication Ia every newspaper OF the
State Of Louisiana, regardless OF It's
views, because the news relates to the
aork Of State organization composed
OF leading business men. elefgymen
and women of all falths. and the faets
afe calmly presented by one entitled TO
speak as an eye Witness OH one Of the
chief issues before the State. Every
citizen In the State Is entitled TO know
through his uwn newspaper that union
meetings Ia Shreveport, Monroe. Alex
andrla, baton Roage. Lafayette, Lake
Charles. and Morgan City have sent
telegraphic petitions To Congress for
the smlth.iiughes bill, to establish
federal censorship Of motion pictures;
and have endorsed the appeal TO Gov.
l.. II Hall. previously adopted by Meth,
odlst and baptist State meetings. to
faithfully enforce the Locke Law; and
itaye also petitlonad Congress to pass
he Sims bill. 10 prohibit interstate
transmission vi race gambling odds
lnha bets
Citizens are also entitled to know
facts bearing ON the race gambling
Issue from Witness who has bessu an
1nttsamhling expert since 1883. when
he initiated in New Orleans the cru.
sade that shut the Louisiana Lottery
from the mails. for which and subse-
lusili aid IN the State victory he re.
esiyea the thanks of the antiiaitery
leagues OF the State. witness who
for twenty years has kept the race
gambling fetfsatlns, frem the District
u Columbia. from New York State,
from Pennsylvania, New Hampshire,
Ohio and western Mexico.
Here are some of the facts 10 which
he stands ready TO make affidavit.
/. The muzzitng OF newspapers In
one OF the corrupt practices 10 which
race gamblers are wont to resort When
The race gambling trust invaded Penn.
sylsania, and. with the cooperation of
The penYose political machine, carried
through second reading In the legisla
ture, d state bill to license gambling
no prominent daily paper In the State,
save the North American, nf Philadet
phia. even published the news OF the
fight so far az II vas unfasorahle 10
the gamblers Who were beaten In spite
OF this rerlidity of the press SO far
this press muszing does not seem to
have been attempted In Louisiana. but
editors. publishers and the public are
entitled to this fact 10 put them all ON
guard as to what may be expected In
January
z. Ali running races are fully con,
troEled by the New York Jockey Club
which has said before Legislative bodies
and elsewhere that horse races eanaot
he conducted without gambling
g. Wherever the running races SEIZED
nied by the New York Jockey Club
have been held there has always been
gambling mol mere casual bets. which
are not even allowed. but betting under
the management Of professional gam.
blers, who travel from track to track.
making their living by inducing rich
aud poor to bet In the exciting intervals
~ race meeting. In which only one.
sixth of the time IL devoted to the
races. with fiyesixths left open for the
betting ring Whenever strict Ell
forcement ef stringent laws have not
prevented. the management Of the
races has licensed from twenty To enc
hundred professional gamblers ut the
rate Of sa5 to sltle per day These pro.
fesslonal gamblers are called book
makers" whenever some other title Is
not needed TO help officials and Judges
to nslllfy the law The tricks Of these
gamblers In doping the faserI,s herse,
against which the boekmaker beta, and
N bribing his Jockey. have been ~
numerous that the indignation Of bet
,ora themselves at these frauds. mere
than .hn moral opposition Of churches
or even the business opposition Of
/, Employers, has carried lava outtawing
race gambling tn oil states save Ken
lucky and Maryland IN the face ot
these aattrnmhstng Laws, race gart.
hlers are promoting race gambling In
Nav York State and Louisiana In New
York, II In done by aid Of judges who
ALLOW the trick 10 be- Dsst over that
bo0kmaker IL no, bookmaker ii YOU
cannot see the record made BY his
agent sneaslng In ihe crowd and writ
ing II down In his pocket, even though
Il can be- shown that he acts openly 80
bookfnaker hi other states, and makes
race gambling promotion his business
all the year Such decisions make icon.
tempt Of court" a common sentiment
"a New York amang good citizens. and
q le question mas we'll be- raised whe'h
ar such peryersions of law shesId bring
swift impeachment II tried In this
2tatp