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McLAUGEIN TURF BOOSTER Mayor of Hot Springs Insists Sport Brought Prosperity. Return of Racing Put Noted Arkansas Health Resort on Map Acted as Attraction. HOT SPRINGS, Ark., March 19. Basking in the "sunshine of prosperity," every hotel and place of lodging, taxed to capacity as practically all branches of commerce and industry soar to new peaks, this city is convincing proof that racing Is an asset to any community. Anyone who doubts that statement should chat a few minutes with Hot Springs chief executive, Mayor Leo P. McLaughlin. Ho knows, and he has been one of the active pioneers who made possible the return of racing to this noted health and pleasure resort. Mayor McLaughlin is serving his fifth consecutive term. That is believed to be a record for any resort. "Four years ago Hot Springs was rather low in spirit," explained Mayor McLaughlin. "Our pulse as a resort was way down. Wo sat quietly and watched California, its track and tourists. We looked south and there was New Orleans and then Florida getting business that should come to Hot Springs. Then Texas got the racing fever and wo awoke to the sad but true realization that Hot Springs, a city that people love to visit, was literally surrounded belt in, as it were with race tracks and had Oaklawn Park here and couldnt use it. HOW SPORT WAS REVIVED. "If racing was good for other resorts it would be doubly good for us, because, in addition to the sport, we had what no other city could offer and that was the hot, medicinal water baths that are known the world over for their curative properties. There was an informal meeting called. A few of us met, looked the situation squarely in the face, and then decided that we couldnt be shot for trying and we went to work to reopen the track. At that time, you recall, it was against the law to bet on the ponies. I went to St Louis and had a talk with Charles Cella, majority owner of Oaklawn Park. I asked him to come down and meet with a few business men. He didnt like the idea and said we could never get by. However, he came. Arrangements were made to lay the foundation for reopening of the big racing plant. "Mr. Cella later told me that he took a walk down Central Avenue the night he met us and told himself he was crazy for agreeing to try and race here. One could have fired a shotgun down the citys main thoroughfare and hit only the light poles. Well, the rest is history, and mighty interesting history, too. When we began the first movement to bring racing back there were over forty vacant stores on Central Avenue, from Ouachita Avenue to the Whittington Avenue junction. HELP FOR BUSINESS. "Business men were coming to me pleading for something that would bring visitors back to Hot Springs. Florida and other places having racing had the S. R. O. signs up. We looked like a morgue. Then it got noised around that a movement was afoot to revive the sport. You would be surprised to know what a decidedly refreshing effect that report had. We got the financial assistance necessary. Governor Futrell didnt bother the races, .and that meeting was wonderfully successful. Before the opening day every one of those vacant stores had been rented. News that we would race soon reached other tracks. There was no difficulty in getting horses, because horsemen love to race here. "Now comes, to me, the most remarkable feature of it all. The people of Arkansas came to the races. From every county in the state came patrons, and they gloried in the sport. Racing not only became popular with the people of the state, but it made Hot Springs thousands and thousands of additional funds throughout Arkansas. People realized that we did not have the ocean to advertise with racing, like Florida; that we had here only the hot water and that Hot Springs was entitled to have privileges. I have stressed that fact in every campaign. "Then came the movement to legalize racing. The state was burdened with debt Social security and welfare legislation was demanding thousands of dollars from the state. Where the money was to come from was a problem. Racing was the answer. The sport was legalized and Governor Futrell signed the bill. Racing not only saved the municipal life of Hot Springs, but it also has put into the coffers of the state several hundred thousand dollars that have gone to features I referred to a moment ago. THOROUGHLY ESTABLISHED. "This year the sport, thank goodness, is, we believe, thoroughly established. The need for revenue is greater than it was three years ago. Those who oppose the sport because of the pari-mutuel betting have nothing to offer the state to bring in the same amount of revenue. We have every reason to believe that all connected with and interested in racing realize that the meeting this year is on a firm, clean basis, and every effort will be made to keep it so. "Any time anyone alleged that racing is harmful to a community or to a resort, just refer them to Hot Springs. From the deepest gloom, racing has brought Hot Springs into the sunshine of prosperity. We now are competing most successfully with other resorts, and, as I said, in the possession of the world famous hot baths, are going them one better. Our hotels and rooming houses are taxed to capacity. Racing did it." Hot Springs mayor regards the great sport of racing as big business and a necessary part of the life of ever center of population. Human nature, the desire to play a part of the time, demands a certain amount of recreation, and there is none more attractive, when considered from all angles, than racing. Mayor McLaughlin, who is a candidate for re-election next month and will be returned to office for another term, judging by comments one hears, foresees a continued expansion of racing as public servants become more efficient in handling it. Si.
