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HAWTHORNE PLANS Several Contracts Let for Improvements at Cicero Course. Judge Murphy Announces Prin-: ciples Under Which Racing Will Be Conducted. The Chicago Business Mens Racing Association which took over the control of the Hawthorne track a little more than a week ago, is going rapidly ahead with its plans for the coming racing season. Several smaller contracts calling for improvements at the Cicero property have already been let and larger ones are now under consideration and steps to get them hurried along on their way to completion will bo taken within the next few days. The permanent organization of the new Business Mens Racing Association Avill be started some time this week, when attorney Albert Sabath returns from New Orleans where he has held a number of conferences with judge Joseph A. Murphy. While judge Murphy will be the active head of the new organization, plans are under way to include many of Chicagos business people in tho affairs of the club when the time comes for its permanent organization. Before departing for New Orleans attorney Sabath and others of the new owners mada an inspection trip of Hawthorne and found the plant in surprisingly good condition. Tho stable room will just about be doubled, they announced, when their improvement plans are complete. They also have architects figuring on plans for a new club house and the present stands will be enlarged. Plans aro also being worked out for a better way to care for the parking of automobiles. Somo of the principles on which the Chicago Business Mens Racing Association expects to build racing of a high class were announced from New Orleans, yesterday, by judge Murphy. He sent them along in the shape of a letter to Charles T. Essig and they have been enthusiastically approved by the Chicagoana interested in the local club. Judge Murphy also notified his associates that he would come direct to Chicago after the close oC racing at New Orleans on March 17 to take active charge of the affairs here. PROTECTION FOR PUBLIC. The cardinal principles for the permanent revival of racing as advanced by Mr. Murphy follow: 1 Strict obedience to law as construed by courts of competent jurisdiction. 2 Absolute protection to the public. It will begin with the selection of competent officials of unblemished reputation and clothing them with absolute power to punish offenders. Close censorship of owners, trainers and jockeys and refusing those of unsavory reputation the right to participate in tho racing. Ample and competent policing to keep touts and crooks from the enclosure. 3 An admission fee within reach of all. 4 Every possible thing for the comfort and convenience of horsemen and taking every burden of expense from them. A track kitchen operated on clean lines. No special feed privilege and free concessions to competing firms to establish depots on tho grounds for distribution of feed. No declaration fees from races. The scratch time will be placed at 12 :30. Horses may scratch freo to eight and then only with the consent oC tho stewards. No reasonable excuse from horsemen will bo refused, but the public that pays at the gate is entitled to see the card run off as published. 5 Practical abolition of the free gate. Chicago must have the best racing or none at all. To attract good horses, big purses and stakes must be offered. As the track will not have the benefit of big revenues from tho mutuels as in Maryland and Kentucky, it must get its revenue at the gate and it is believed that tho public will accept this gracefully. Completo divorce of the racing from politics. Racing should be operated as a semi-civic proposition and every official will bo mado immune from any influence. If attempts are made to force undesirables on tho management it will present its case to tho court of public opinion. Only clean racing can live and the only way to have clean racing is to start with clean men. The management believes that strict adherence to the above policies will bring to tho racing a strong public sentiment that will result in legislation that will place racing on a plane in Chicago that it has never be- fore enjoyed.
