Evening star., 1941-04-02
D. T.. Churches
Join Fight on
Jai A|ai Plan
Federation Urges
Maryland Governor
To Veto Betting Bill

The Washington Federation OF
Churches today Joined the ranks
of individuals and organizations ap-
pealing to Gov. O'Conor of Mary
land to veto legislation to authorize
a referendum on pari-mutuel bet
ting on jai alai in Montgomery
County.
Wilbur La Roe. jr., chairman of
the federation's Civic Affairs Com
mittee, has sent the Maryland chief
executive a letter asking his veto
of the bill, which was passed by the
Maryland General Assembly during
it's last session Monday.
Yesterday the Washington Min
isterial Association and the Execu-
tive Board of the Montgomery
County Federation of Ministers took
similar action.
O'Conor Veto Is Indicated.
Gov OConor has indicated his
intention of vetoing the bill unless
he receives word of popular support
of the measure among county resi-
dents
o. M Kile, president of the Mont
gomery County Civic Federation, and
Washington I. Cleveland, president
of the Greater Kensington Civic
League, have already expressed op-
position to the proposal in letters
to the Governor.
For many years We have been
G-l, N1nrc tho TliCfrlnt nf
Columbia Mr.. La Roe told the
Governor, "and throughout the Pc
riod we have been up against the
difficulty of gambling houses OPEN
ing up just across the line in Mary
land, where they feel either that the
gambling laws are more favorable or
the enforcement thereof less rigid.
According to reports the
gamblers expect, if this legislation is
approved by you, to open a huge
gambling place near the District line
in your State
La Roe Cites Backing of $4,000.
Mr.. La Roe said the Federation
of churches, representing 162
churches and membership of more
than 10000. was directing the appeal
through his committee.
Mr.. Cleveland told the Governor
the county residents have tradi-
tionally opposed and have prevented
the operation of legalized pari-
mutuel betting within their borders
and they are overwhelmingly op-
posed to the provisions of this bill
He added that vigorous opposl-
ton to this bill has been manifested
throughout the country not alone
because of the legalized gambling
feature, but because of the Surrep-
titious manner in which the meas
ure was forced through the legisla-
ture in the closing hours of the ses-
sion with no opportunity for voters
to express their views"
Carey Quinn Defends Plan.
z. Brooke Lee, House of Delegates
member from Montgomery County
and chief supporter of the bill, said
today he had no comment. The 10
cation of the proposed jai alai court
would not be announced until
"about 10 days" he said.
Carey Quinn, chairman of the
county civic federation's Legislative
and Legal Action Committee, ex-
pressed the belief an amendment to
the bill which subjects the proposal
to referendum vote gets away
from the onus of public charges
that the bill was introduced with
out giving the county residents an
opportunity to express themselves"
Mr.. Quinn said you can't stop
people from gambling" claiming the
plan would produce revenue for a
county sorely in need of revenue"
The referendum would be held at
the special election to name a sue
cessor to the late Representative
Byron. The date for the election has
not been set.