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MUST OBEY THE LOCKE LAW GOVERNOR HALL OF LOUISIANA DELIVERS ULTIMATUM TO RACING PROMOTERS. Declares That Ho Will Close the Fair Grounds Track if Betting Goes Further Than a Wager Betwoen Two Friends. Baton Rouge, La., November 27. "New Orleans races must obey the Locke law, otherwise I will stop them," declared Gov. L. E. Hall tonight, following a demonstration iu the executive offices of the so-called "oral wagering," New York style, on running races, which was staged for the chief executives benefit by representatives of a newly organized association of New Orleans ministers and other reformers who are combatting the Introduction of betting at the proposed race meeting scheduled for New Orleans in January. Race programs were marked witli odds agalust certain horses as they are used on eastern race tracks, so as to give the governor an opportunity to determine whether such a Variety of wagering would come within the provisions of the Locke law. At the conclusion of the conference, which lasted over an hour. Governor Hall declared that if bookmaklug of the New York variety was attempted at thu forthcoming meeting, he would close the Fair Grounds track. Statements were submitted to the governor from Rabbi Max Heller, Miss Jean Gordon, Rev. J. C. Barr, Rev. S: H. Werlein, Secretary Browne of the Y. M. C. A., Pearl Wright and other representative. New Orleans citizens, voicing a protest against "oral wagering" at the proposed race meeting. The governor was informed that the protest came as a result of well-established suspicions that Joseph A. Murphy, manager of the race meeting, had decided to adopt the New York style of wagering. "I do not wish to antagonize the well-meauing business meu of New Orleans who have put up their money to restore racing at the Fair Grounds," said Governor Hall, "for I am presuming that their intentions aire of the best, but if betting of any form except between two friends is carried on they cannot run .a.day." Charges made In New Orleans by bookmaker Mark. Boasberg, better known as Jack Sueehan, that his business rivals bad been accorded promises of protection, while he would be shut out, led to the organization of the reformers movement.
