The Washington times., 1920-05-11
REFORMERS
FIGHT ON RACING
Appear at Senate Hearing With
Codes and ParaphernaIia TO
Stop Betting.

betting booths at Pimlico ana other
race tracks; diagrams showing the
operation of the psri-mutusl system;
copies OF codes used by book-mskers
and tipstsrs; old rscehorse tickets
and other pAraphernalia were
brought before a Senate subcommit-
tee yesterday during a hearing on
tho sims-Sterling bill to stop all gam
bling on horse races.
states Allow Betting.
The bill proposes that the Federal
Government forbid the TRANSMISSION
across State borders, by mail. tele-
phone or telegraph, OF all lniorma
tion, advertising, announcement or
dispatches, OF the odds paid at any
race track. IL would forbid publicity,
OF "sll bets. betting odds. betting re-
turns, bet winnings. psri-mutual WIN
nings, betting tips and all bettnn
records and information whatsoever.
That rsce track betting is now per-
mitted by law In only three states
Maryland. Kentucky and Nevada--
and that in addition gambling occurs
at race tracks in Wyoming, Loulsi-
ana. Arkansas and New YORK. was
asserted by witnesses representing
the Anti-SaIoon League. the Interna.
tional Reform Bureau. the Council OF
Churches OF Christ In Americs, ana
the Methodist Board OF Temperance
Prohibition and Public Morals.
It was alleged that "the sum OF
$3.50. 900, 900 changes hands each year
on race track betting In this coun.
try" Witnesses also aiiege that
there 10 q countrywide organization
OF handbook makers race news dis
tributing agencies, tipsters. touts ana
pool rooms, the latter run more or
less openly.
Protect other states.
That the States opposed to gam
bling on horse races have the right
to be protected against tn dissent
nation Of betting odds from the few
States permitting horse racing was
contended by all witnesses.
"Nine-tenths of the gambling on
horse racing in Maryland and Ken
lucky" exclaimed the Rev. Wilbur r.
Crafts, of the International reform bu-
reau, .is not done In those States. but
in the forty-six other States, where
these betting odds are sent broadcast
in newspapers and by telephone and
| telegraph"
For the enlightenment of Senator
Sterling. who seemed to know little
about bookmaking and racing odds.
the various witnesses and investi.
gators went minutely into the opera
tion of the pari-mutuels. race news
exchanges. dope Sheets" street.
corner bookmakers and so on.
Maryland Tracks Discussed.
Samuel Wilson, assistant superin-
tendent Of the New Jersey Anti saloon
League, charged that poolrooms were
run openly in Hoboken and other New
Jersey cities. and drew sad picture
Of poor dupes studying their dope
sheets and signing as the returns
come in"
Mr. Wilson said he had endeavored
to persuade Postmaster General Bur
Lesson to prevent the dissemination OF
racing Information when the Govern
ment was operating the telephone and
telegraph lines. but he had never
been able to bring the matter to
head.
The Rev. w. W. Davis. secretary OF
the Maryland Antisaloon League. was
listed among the witnesses, but failed
to appear. However. Maryland came
in for considerable discussion because
of the annual meets at Laurel Pim-
lico. Bowie and Havre de Grace.
Bet. Go Together.
"You can't go into barber shop or
shoe shine parlor here in Washington
without hearing folks talking about
putting down a bet on the races" tes-
tined Deets Pickett, of the Methodist
board
"I came from Kentucky continued
Pickett, but I am opposed to gam
bling on horse races. i believe gam
bling has been the old man Of the
sea on the back OF horse racing in
this country for years. There cannot
49, IL ~atN
bill to forbid interstate communica-
ton Of gambling information"
Mr.. Wilson, of New Jersey, said
since the country "had gone over the
top with prohibition, there was no
greater reform needed than the elimi-
mating of gambling. The way these
bookmakers and pool room proprie-
tors walt for their prey, these poor
deluded men who hunt them up to
give them money. reminds me more
than anything else OF the story OF
the spider and the fly"
walking "Bookies."
Howard Clark Barber, superintend-
ent Of the Society for the Prevention
OF Crime OF New York, said he had
done a great deal OF investigating,
even to swapping the picture OF a
woman who sat in the grandstand At
Saratoga and by a simple move OF the
hand or head tipped off the winner to
a man who sat In window. with a
great magnifying glass, half mile
away.
wherever you ind the pool room
| eliminated, you hnd the walking
handbook maker" said Barber.
"These news agencies distributing
race information have great plants