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ADVOCATES MORE LIBERAL POLICY. John D. Crimmins of New York Tells Why He Favors the Gittins Bill. New York, September 19. George C. Reynard, secretary of the Farmers and Merchants Mutual Assistance league, lias received a large number of letters on the subject of the Gittins bill from prominent citizens, among them one from John I. Crimmins, a prominent New Yorker. Mr. Crimmins says in part: "The Gittins bill, I am advised, is still pending in the legislature of this state. Horseraciug in itself is not immoral. The question, then, is: Does horseraciug increase gambling or the taste fcfr gambling V This I question. The gambler will lind means to gamble. Why, then, are those who do not gamble deprived of the pleasure of the race? We might begin further back, in the introduction of the racer, the breeding of the animal, the rivalry between the breeders for the most perfect and best blood, his training and development, and bringing him into the lield. This is an employment which gentlemen farmers have followed in all countries where there is civilization. "In our early days the presidents of the United States and many of the most prominent men and others who framed our constitution and laws were engaged in horseracing. We read enthusiastic descriptions in the letters that have come down from our presidents who have attended racing. I have in mind the letter of John Quincy Adams, describing the race between Eclipse and Henry. In that period and for many years afterward there was rivalry between the north and the south in the gentlemens sport. "In my judgment the people who have attended the races at our great tracks like Belmont Park, are the equals in their moral lives and their public works to the best in the land. "The Gittins bill removes many of the features of racing that are objectionable to some persons. There is no reason why a man should be deprived of the sport he finds in attending a horserace, and there is no reason why the farmer should be prevented from breeding and developing the horse, which will be the case if racing, is stopped for good. "There is a community interest in this matter of racing, too. Take Saratoga Springs, for illustration. A prominent feature there for many years was racing. It attracted many thousands there who now go abroad and spend their millions in other countries. Why cannot a large percentage of these persons be kept in our country? We never can keep them here until we create attractive features. "I have observed abroad that some of the persons who have been critics of horseracing in this country do not hesitate to attend horseracing in England and in France. I think there is a great deal of hypocrisy in the opposition to the Gittins bill. "Let us keep our people at home. We should lie more liberal, not only in respect to racing, but in other things. I have read the Gittins bill carefully, and I think I know all that will lie effected by its passage. In my judgment it should be enacted into law."
