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. . THE TROUBLE AT PROVIDENCE. President Maurice M. Mlntou, of the Narragansett Breeders Association, lias felt himself called upon totgive reasons for declaring oflVthe meeting at providence, which was scheduled for the period from July 23 to August 11 and he docs so in the following statement recently issued: "Early last January Governor Utter stated that from bis interpretation of the laws of Rhode Island no meeting could be held unless the Legislature amended them. I stated at that time that the meeting last summer was legally and lawfully conducted by the association in so far as the association had authority. I further stated that if by reason of existing laws, racing was threatened, the Legislature, if it desired to have running and trotting meetings, could clhtct a racing statute to enable incorporated associations o hold heir meetings during a limited number of days. "No such laws were enacted, and Governor Utter has not vacated his opluion. For the association to hold a meeting and contest the position of Governor Utter is not in Hue with the policy of the association; therefore it has abandoned its intention to race running horses or to permit the racing of harness horses. "When the purchase of Narragansett Park and the improvements to be made thereon were contemplated it was stated that racing under the rules of the Jockey Club would be welcomed, and that it would add materially to the midsummer attractions or the state. It was also pointed out that Narragansett Park had for years been noted as a race course and that.no opposition had ever been made to meetings held thereon. Acting upon the solicitation of persons friendly to the sport and upon advice of counsel, a large sum of money was invested, and from the standpoint of the sport a successful meeting was held. "Whether this association will ever again race in Providence is a matter not to be stated at this time. It sought to secure the good will of the people of Rhode Island, not only by the excellence of the sport it offered during the eighteen days of its meeting, but by the order and decorum it rigidly enforced. So far reaching were its efforts to protect people from the lawless element that it stationed Pinkcrton police at the wharves and railway depots to stop pickpockets from entering the city of Providence so that it could not be stated that the races had Injured the city. On the other hand, while the meeting was held at a loss to the association, it did much to improve certain lines of business in Providence, Cranston, Narragansett Pier and other places. "It also gave Rhode Islands summer population something to do when In search of pleasure. The meeting this year, judging from the popularity created among horsemen by last years meeting, would have been brilliant, and the added events carded by the Association would have insured a success from a sporting standpoint. But the Association, even assured of success, had no disposition to place itself in a position which it would have to defend or which could have been construed to mean an effort on its part to perform a questionable, if not an unlawful act."
