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In mid-July, 1890, a correspondent for the AMERICAN ISRAELITE touted FJD's
anti-Lottery efforts when he reported, "I am happy and proud to state that among... [the anti-Lottery legislators]
is the only Israelite in the Louisiana legislature, Hon. Felix J. Dreyfous." The following week, the journalist
described the impressive anti-Lottery rally held at Grunewald Hall:
On Wednesday evening last a grand reception was tendered to those of our
city representatives in the Legislature, who by their votes, cast to the last against the lottery company, are
entitled to the everlasting gratitude of our people. The reception was one of the grandest affairs ever seen in
this city, a large concourse of the best people assembling to do honor unto those to whom honor was eminently due...
Hon. Felix J. Dreyfous was received by the large audience present with enthusiastic applause, and was a conspicuous
figure on the platform. The Israelites of New Orleans and Louisiana feel proud of the stand taken by a member of
their race, and in after years when the history of this contest will have been written, the name of Felix J. Dreyfous
will be stamped in letters of gold in the heart of every Jew who knows how trying a time our young friend had and
how he upheld the banner of honesty amidst an army of temptation and corruption seldom equaled."
The stories of the anti-Lottery fight Ruth heard as a child from her father prompted her to tell an interviewer,
"It was almost like Mardi Gras to see the enthusiasm of the people to rally for those who were anti-Lottery."
FJD joined two other legislators, J.M. Kennedy and H.P Wells, when they issued a minority report in which they
condemned the majority of pro-Lottery supporters in the legislature who voted in favor of rechartering the Lottery.
In the strong defense of their dissenting position, FJD, Kennedy and Wells chastised those among them who would
dare the Louisiana Lottery to enter the next campaign "(fortified... by the approval of this General Assembly),
and by and through an immense corruption fund, mass all the bad elements in the State, white and black, and, by
their united vote, endeavor to ride rough shod over the respectable and worthy people of this State." The
three dissenters further warned that no man should be deceived by propaganda or defenses to the contrary. Their
strong minority report rejected the lottery bill, in the words of one newspaper account, "to save the honor
of the State of Louisiana."
FJD certainly had his detractors among the pro-Lottery crowd who vainly attempted to dissuade the young reformer
from his morally rigid stand. As one reporter recorded in a local column, "An attempt has been made by the
lottery people to bulldoze Mr. Dreyfous, but he has shown his grit in the past and shows it now, The lottery people
include some very reputable persons... and these have been used by every means fair and foul, to influence the
thinking men who refuse on principle to sign a petition to Mr. Dreyfous to misrepresent the people of his ward.
It goes without saying that Mr. Dreyfous won't yield... While some of the signatures may not be actual forgeries,
they have been improperly obtained under the whip of the lottery company's influence, and there are many men who
can't be whipped in. Mr. Dreyfous is one." Ruth remembers that her father had been offered a tremendous bribe.
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