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i • i i r r . i • t r r I I • - - r I I i e WANT LAW IMPARTIALLY ENFORCED. The final and prompt abandonment of the Grand Circuit racing dates assigned to New York City by tlie stewards, surely meets with the general approval of trotting horsemen and breeders, who also hope that racing trottera either at Independent meetings like t hojte-*njl veil at Goshen, Monroe and Parkway, or in connection with agricultural fain In this siate. will all be abandoned. The advocates of this move, among them many horsemen who have been managers of trotting meetings and lovers of the sport, base their argument on tbe fact that a total abandonment of any kind of home racing, especially in sixty odd coaatj agri cultural fairs, will eventually arouse the general public, particularly the rural element, to such an extent as to bring about the final repeal of the directors liability act. The decisii n ol Jacob Kuppi rl to close the .1 on of his Hudson Birer Park track at Pougbkei psie for the Duchess County Fair m xt summer, unless the horse racing feature is entirely abandoned, is also universally approved by interested horsemen and breeder who. aside from their fascination for the snort, have big investments in breeding establishments. Prominent men who have been identified for years with agricultural fairs all over the state, have at last come !.. tin- conclusion that holding their regular annual events will not only pro-,., total failures, nut losing ventures without the burse racing feature as its attractive adjunct and the chief drawing card at the gates and grandstands. Tliis prevailing opinion indicates that the sum of 230.000 which the state appropriates annually now f.r the support of county fairs Lies not attract fait managera as much as tlie home racing feature. It is whispered among fair Circles that a strong-effort will soon be made to either repeal this ob- noxious law or pass such amendments to it as will help along rural fair managers to hold on to their racing features Without becoming liable under the act. The move lor redress will I..- made by country fair managera alone without risking any help from owners of race tracks whereon racing is held without the pumpkins aa a side show. As far as can be learned Hie leaders of this BaOVC meat will define horse racing exclusively as the "trots," and according to one who is iu the inner circle of this group, owners of running tracks and managera ot the thoroughbred sport not only will not be ask.-d to help, bni will be requested to slay away from Albany when this request goes before the Legislature. A well known horseman and fair manager, who, if not tin- original .r. will be a prominent participant iii t ii : — movement, said yesterday: "The abandon- ment of I Grand Circuit meeting at Oravesend track mi account of tbi directors liability act has .i awn extra attention to the matter and aroused im. eh agitation. it seesaa tbe time has arrived When every county fail director will ask wh.v lie must be Immune from the law when tbe owner ot the Brooklyn Jockey Clnb track is afraid to allow the conduct of a trotting meeting on his property. ••Heretofore oar fellow fair directors have been under tin- impression that this a.; .- directed primarily against running meeting! and that tin- harness races held in connection with fairs would not I. M tie. .1. yet there appears to be no reason to even argue that I am not as liable to punbihUM nt Under tbe law a- the man who conducts a bigger and bct-! t.-r trotting meeting in tliis state. "Gentlemen like Messrs. Buppert and Dwrer surelj have the heal legal advisors and when they decide n.. i to endanger their reputation and liberty under this act what excuse have I to consider m - s.-if Immune, especlallj when 1 do know and must under oath admit that people will bet and do bet on hors.-s during our count] fair meet hogs." Speaking of khe plan- under which tie- fair managers will pursue i heir efforts to gel some redress :.i th.-ir annual fairs, tnls gentleman said: "So t ir we ha in i mad.- definite plan-, but a- I understand it th- In--; waj «.ll be ii, e.iii the attention of the state legislators to the fact that with ill horse racing not even the smallest fair can be coo-ducted. Why. tin- pro rata amount each county revives from that 1250.000 appropriation will not be enough to opt u the - u.-. Thiii- will not bo any im.iiey to pay the premium-, and any sensible man knowa thai without ea-h prize- we will in.i nave anything to make a fair with. We inii-t impress upon thi minds of the law m-ik.-rs that one third of the public will not go to i county fair if admission waa free and we paid them .ar f.ue. were ii not for the fact that thej will se ■ hone racing. The present generation is too far ad-I ance.i to spend it- time and money P- -,.,■ pumpkins home-mad i i s and quilts, bm will look over them witli some interest while waiting for tin- gates to th ■ ruing enclosure to be op Bed. •Thi- matter baa Ci me p. sneh a point that if th s law wa- eve. in.-. I at countj fairs a- diligently as it wa- or WOUld be at a running meeting on Si.. ;,- head Bay track, myself ami hundreds of other fair director- should n-w 1m- behind the bl ra. We know people bet on our fair races, and why should wa manage public institutions for the benefit ..■ farmer and the public in general under sufferance 1 "If thi- law l- ji -I and .n the statutes to be »a-•. forced. let it l»-. an. I there will be m . fau- On th Continued on second page. ■ . • ■ . , , . ■ WANT LAW IMPARTIALLY ENFORCED. Continued from first page. " other liaiil. if exceptions can be made to it. let it Ik- general. I am not only a director but part VWlMit of i It. fair grounds in my county, and. like .Mr. Kappert, Mr. llwycr. and i ther law-abiding eiti-. ; ens. want to respect the law. irrespective of its merits. The other fellow who conducts a fair with J horse rai ■ s certainly breaks the law. for he knows int -ii BMkc wafers at his track. "Now. is it justice to drive me out of business ; . and force my property to remain idle and without any revenue because I must respect the law. mil I allow the other fellow to go ahead, break the law simply In cause he is not interfered with, and on top of that get real cash from the state treasury to en-. courage him to break a state law — a premium for crime J "If this law is just, fair and sensible let it be ! enforced all over the state, which will mean the closing of every fair ground gate. Then we will have ■ chance to know what the rural voter will do when deprived of his country fair and its trots. "If it is unjust, injurious to agriculture and , against persons! liberty, then let it be repealed so any law abiding citizen will know what to do for his own and the public interest. "I can think of no better argument to bring he- fore the legislators, and also ask incidentally why . they should be willing to donate annually the hand sooae sum of hB50,000 for fairs where the laws of I the state are openly violated by men betting on j horse races. Is it for the purpose of making people , criminals? "The reason why we have decided not to ask running tomatl to help us is plain; because while they represent solely "racing interests pure and sim- ! pie. we are backing what are admitted to be public : institutions for the benefit of all classes of citizens. "This law was passed, put on the statutes and kept there mainly by the rural voters and their legislators, so let its effect reach them directly and prove its unfairness to all "Under existing conditions this directors liability act. a law on the statutes, must either be repealed in order to give the law-abiding man an opportunitv to manage his affairs, or executed without fear or favor to prevent the law-breaker to have his advantage and be rewarded by an annual gift from the pockets of the taxpayers. "Agricultural fairs without horse racing, even if it be a county wagon race for ten bushels of oats. is as much of an impossibility as running an engine without steam; and where there is horse racing people will bet. be it a drink, a cigar or money. No power on earth can prevent this, yet according to the law I must be punished because I happt u to own a fair ground and use it- for the benefit and amusement of my neighbors once or twice each year." — New York Telegraph.
