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HOPE NOT YET ABANDONED FRIENDS OF RACING STII.L ACTIVE IN BEHALF OF THE GITTINS BILLS AT ALBANY. Andrew Miller Makes Positive Announcement That There Will Bo No Racing at Saratoga Unless Bills Are Favorably Acted Upon. New York. July 7. "If the Mils introduced by Senator Oittins at Albany do not become laws there will be no racing at Saratoga tbis year." Bald Ah drew Miller, secretary and treasurer of tin- Saratoga Hack. yesterday. "We intend to obey the law as it is written in the statute luniks, and unless the Legislature cives the desired relief Saratoga will have to K t along without the usual meethm in August." Mr. Miller made this positive statement beeause be li arned that a report bad boen widely circulated Bassos th.- lawmakers to ti Beet that if the Qlt- thai bills were not passed Saratoga would race .iust the same after reaching an understanding with certain state officials that the track directors would not be held criminally liable for betting indulged in without their knowledge or consent. Mr. Miller also pointed oat that the Saratoga Ass iciation for the Improvement of the Breed of Horses is in boaor bound to stand by the other Jockey Club tracks u keeping the gates closed so long as tbe present laws remain unamended. It would be extremely dangerous for Saratoga to attempt a race meeting tinder the present conditions. it is argued, because in the event of a formal crusade by reformer* or anti-race truck agitators the authorities of Saratoga County would he placed in a trying position if asked to prosecute the race track directors, if they refused the matter would he carried up to the governor, who. it is believed, would be coatneUed to entertain charges of neglect of duty against the sheriff and district attorney. The Gittius bills were introduced, Mr. Miller says. to enable Saratoga to race and to perrait tbe state and county fails to operate without fear of getting into trouble. These bills have received strong sup port from residents of Saratoga Springs, who insist that without a race meeting tie town will sustain heavy financial losses. Senator Edgar T. Braokett has lieon appealed to by Saratoga citizens to aid in passing tbe measures and. according to the general belief, lie has shown a willingness to help. But An-gilr « Miller and his associate. Richard P. Wilson, am who have played an important part in fighting for the Gltttns measures, have decided to take a firm Stand in regard to the future. Mr. Millers an-i.ouueeinent is final, he declares, and Saratoga as a result is up in arms. Not only have the business men and hotel proprietors of Saratoga come out in favor of tbe proposed legislation by writing letters to Governor lix and members of tbe Legislature, but other communities have followed in their footsteps. In this city racing men have been active in securing tbe Indorsement of tie Ulla from hotels, restaurants, theatres, toxical "ompanies. merchants, harness makers, horse dealers. breeders and shopkeepers. The support of tbe New-York Central. Pennsylvania, Long island and Brooklyn Ranid Transit railroads has been sought, while a tioiough canvass of gheepehead Hay. Grave sand. Ceaey Island and Yonkera has been made with encouraging results. Buffalo, where KenUwortfa Park is located, has responded to the call and other cities up the state have been visited by the agents of tbe lacing interests with favorable results. The purpose of this statewide activity is to prove to tbe governor and the Legislature thai there is a strong demand for racing which warrants favorable action on the bills before tbe session at Albany comes to an end. Albany. N. V.. July 7. — R. T. Wilson, president of the Saratoga Association, yesterday laliored by-proxy for the Glttias bills. His proxy was bis wife, who braved the heat to come to Albany to fight for the bills giving race track directors special exemption from that provision of the penal code making directors of ail corporations responsible for rambling on premises which they control. Mrs. Wilson sent her card to Senator Sav- and Senator Arget singer, and when they appeared in the lobby she made a plea for the Glttlna bills. She made the excuse that her hus-I ind was ill ami that she bad volunteered to take his place in the fight. She said she did not want any in llsafoa on her part to cause the Pills to tie defeated.
