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SCANTY CROWD AT HALF-MILE TRACK. Now Orleans Folks Hope Legislature Will Lesson Rigors of Locke Law. New Orleans. La.. November 27. Todays shrinkage in attendance over yesterdays slim gathering made It patent that racing at the Louisiana Racing and Driving Clubs track under the present method of betting cannot be maintained unless, the management is willing to book a heavy deficit, a procedure extremely unlikely. The handful of police sent to the track to le on the alert for violators of the Locke law did their work effectively as they did not have much of a field for supervision, the handful of spectators being readily within eye range. What little betting was indulged in was between individuals, in accordance with the provisions of the Locke law. While the management are still taking a hopeful view and maintain that they will carry out their announced intention of racing ninety days, it seems improbable that the gates of the course can be kept open for more than one week, as during that time the experimental stage will have been passed and the association will probably be convinced of the futility of trying to carry on the venture. The forced shut-down of the big tracks this season on account of the passage of the Locke bill is being severely felt by the merchants and principal hotels in the city and, what in former years used to be a packed town with a floating element ready for frolic and ready and willing to pay for its pleasures, is now a sedate city minus bustle, gaiety and the spenders. Rumblings of discontent are heard in many quarters and it would not be surprising if ere long it reaches a roar of sufficient proportion to bring about a special session of the legislature to formulate some ways and means that will Tclievc the stringency. Talk of a special session of the legislature for January is heard In many quarters, and if the body Is called together it is almost certain that the strong sentiment of the New Orleans people will have a tendency to cause Governor Sanders to cm-body in his call a provision pertaining to the race tracks .that will probably afford a way for a race meeting under less restrictive measures than those of the Locke law. There was 4o have been a meeting here today of the powers in control of the larger tracks, but failure on the part of most of those interested to arrive on specified time postponed the matter. Rome Res-pesi-, who arrived from Cincinnati in anticipation ;of meeting the other stockholders, returned to bis home tonight. He will ship a good portion of his racers shortly from his farm at Woodlawn, Ohio, to Montgomery Park, Memphis, to be prepared for the season of racing that may be conducted at Hot Springs. Starter William A. Murray, who is promoting the sixty-days race meeting to be held at El Paso beginning December 5, has arrived here to solicit horses and jockeys. He stated1 that everything would be run off as per schedule and that no purse less than 00 -would be offered.
