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HOT SPRINGS POOLROOMS WILL NOT CLOSE. Agree to Continue Operations During Oaklawn Meeting Sheriff and Mayor Are Hands Off. Hot Springs, Ark., February 13. Unless Dan Stuart and John Condon are stronger in local influence than they now appear to be, the several poolrooms of this town, with the possible exception of the Southern Club in which Stuart is interested, will remain open during the meeting at Oaklawn. This was agreed upon at a meeting of the managers of all rooms except the Southern this afternoon. In former years the rooms closed during the progress of racing at the local tracks, but the, published statements of John Condon and his confreres that the local situation was of little moment and that the Oaklawn track would be operated indefinitely, irrespective of any faction or its Interests caused the room managers to take action. The rooms are enjoying good patronage just now and the managers take the ground that it Is unreasonable lu the racetrack managers to ask them to give way , indefinitely.. Sheriff Williams, ls te real power bchlad the throne here, said today that he would not ask the poolroom men to close, neither would he lend his official or private Influence "to this end, arguing that it was out of his jurisdiction and of a purely municipal order. Mayor Belding, when interviewed, was even more emphatic than the sheriff. He said: "You can say for me that In this matter I am bauds off. I will refuse to use my influence, either personal or official, to close the poolrooms or aid either faction. So far as I am concerned the poolroom men can remain open as long as their business is legitimate in this state and as long as they pay their annual licenses."
