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NO HYSTERIA IN CANADA FRANCIS NELSON GIVES INTERESTING INTER ¬ VIEW ON SITUATION IN DOMINION Predicts That There Will Be No Prohibition of the theRight Right of an Individual to Back His Opinion OpinionDuring During Present Generation Buffalo N Y March 3 Francis Nelson sporting editor of the Toronto Globe racing judge turfman enthusiast in lacrosse cricket rowing hockey and all branches of sport whioh obtain lit the Dominion and probably as representative an allaround sports ¬ man as one could find across the border is in Buf ¬ falo for a few days Asked concerning the situation in Canada relative to the effort to pass an anti racing measure at Ottawa Mr Nelson said saidThere There is no agitation In Canada for the prohibi ¬ tion of betting on race courses Such a suggestion is utterly foreign to the genius and spirit of the Canadian people and its impossibility is recognized by the promoters of the hill that has been offered at the present session of the Dominion Parliament We are 7 OOOflOO of people in Canada dividing up an empire prosperous and hopeful beyond all the records of history and in our youth and strength free from the controlling influences of hysteria and Pharisaism The promoter of the Miller bill said before the committee at Ottawa that he did not think public opinion in Canada was sufficient to sup ¬ port a request that betting on race courses should be made a crime and consequently it was only asked that betting through bookmakers or poolsellers should be banished Conceding the right of individuals to back their opinions the supporters of the bill have naturally little chance of persuading Parliament that the Individuals should be interfered with as to the method of their operations operationsEvery Every country in the world permits or legalize1 betting on race courses on race days Some parts of the United States do not but with you it Is a state and hot a federal affair and minor and local issues sway decisions Morality is not determined by the y j fa rasuat majority in any legislative body TherUntVersal verdict of the civilized world is that it is wisilr and more desirable to permit betting on race courses than to attempt to suppress it entirely Lawmakers endeavor or should endeavor to hold the balance truly between the overrighteoiis and the greedy sharper and in all countries they have couie 10 tht conclusion I have stated Nearly a score of years ago the Parliament of Canada legislated to the same effect and nothing has happened since to give ground for an alteration of that conviction Racing never was so well conducted in our country as it is now It never was supported by so many people or so many desirable people ami everywhere the aim is to briug out its best results and eliminate its deficiencies The president of the Dominion Bank is the vicepresident of the Ontario Jockey Club the president of the Bank of Hamilton is the president of the Hamilton Jockey Club the president of the Merchants Bank is the president of the Montreal Jockey Club the prcsidenfof the Inited Emnire Bank is the former president and director of the Hamilton Jockey Club the last years president of the Canadian Manufacturers As ¬ sociation is a director of the Hamilton Jockey Club and so on all down the line From coast to coast racing is supported and the liberty to bet on a race course if a man wants to is supported by people of the highest standing in their own communities They are as sincerely desirous of the welfare of thtir fellow citizens as any paid official of a law nndorder league could bo and they have an advan ¬ tage in that they are men of practical knowledge and nut dominated by prejudice or humbug You may take the assurance that neither in your time or mine will thorn ever be in Canada any prohibition of the right to back your opinion on a race course
