view raw text
ABOUT NEW ORLEANS RACING Politics and Factions Over Fair Grounds ControlGovernor Parkers Attitude. NEW ORLEANS, La., November 19. The racing situation here is in a tangle. Despite the declaration of the incoming mayor and city commissioners that the men at present in control of the Fair Grounds must get out, only one of the board of directors has resigned. He is Frank St. John, who did not approve of the selection of E. C Smith to succeed Joseph A. Murphy as presiding judge of the Fair Grounds meeting. President B. C. McClellan proposed to ask Governor Parker to appoint men to operate the meeting. This idea is ridiculed as seeking to place the governor in a false position. He has never expressed a desire to name any officers of racing or to have anything to do with the sport. He has simply said lie intended to see that racing was properly conducted and that there were no violations of "the law. Governor Parker said at Baton Rouge a day or two ago: "1 havent been to a race track in many years. But the people are entitled to a sport that is clean and law-abiding. I will make it my business to see that in and about New Orleans tills sport is clean and law-abiding. By the authority vested in me I promise that. "The game must be cleaned up." There is here a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction among shareholders at the ousting of Judge Joseph A. Murphy and the apparent unwillingness of certain political elements to relinquish control In a recent statement president McClellan said he intended to see the sport was conducted on a high plane. Under the present betting laws, racing Is operated under a clumsy system, if the law is obeyed to the letter. This clumsy system cannot be done away with unless the law is violated. And Governor Parker has made it clear lie will stand for no law violation. There will be racing here. That is certain. It is neccessary for, the winter health of New Orleans business. It means millions to that business. Governor Parker wants racing, but he doesnt like the politicians who pull it about under the surface. They are not of his kind. There is some strong purifying and peaceful work being done out of sight, and the situation will clear up in a few days. In the meantime the quarrel about control is not keeping the horses or horsemen away. Both are coming in every day, and there will be more than the usual crowd here before December 1.