Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-04
A Question That Has Aroused Horse.
men, Lovers of Racing and Many
Citizens During the Week.
SOME LEGISLATION is EXPECTED.
The Law and Order People Are Firm in
Their Opposition, but Great Many
People Favor 1t.
PHILADELPHIA WILL MAKE THE MOVE.
The Opinion Of Many Men Who Have Ideas Of Their
Own to Offer.

Captain Wishart's determined pursuit OF
the pool sellers has revived the issue of pools
or no pools, to a marked degree. During
the present week the subject has been dis
cussed in all its various phases, by horse
men, men of business, and people generally
who take most decided stand against the
practice. In order to get full expression
of opinion on the question, from people who
have ideas of their own on the subject, a
DISPATCH reporter exhausted considerable
energy, and wasted some shoe feathers
yesterday.
Ex-Representative Robson, of Allegheny,
declared himself as follows: THE present
provision covering the matter of pool selling
is one of the old blue laws that still holds
its own. For years it was a dead letter, and
might have remained so had not Captain
Wishart unearthed it and put it in force. 1
voted for the bill which was before the last
House, the chief provision of which was to
legalize pool selling on race tracks. 1
thought it no more than fair to large class
of people who consider that their rights had
been abridged. Time out of mind fairs and
agricultural societies in this State have
offered prizes for horses, cattle and farm
products, and almost invariably they have
racing on which money is wagered.
WHAT HAS BEEN NOTICED.
The development of speed horses is just as
essential to breeders as the development of
any other class of animals, but 1 have
noticed that where the privilege of specula-
tion is cut off there are rarely ever any
speed contests of any consequence. When
these contests are knocked out the breeders
suffer. There are several millions of dollars
invested in stock farms in this State for the
development of speed horses, and these
people have rights that must be respected.
Beside this, many fair associations, particu-
larly in Western Pennsylvania, have suf-
fered greatly by the enforcement of this old
law"
''Do you think bill will be revived at
the coming session of the legislature"
Beyond a doubt. 1 understand that
Representative Richmond, of Philadelphia,
will take charge of it this time. 1t would
have gone through at the last session had it
been properly handled from the start 1t
came into the House as a waif, and no one
rallied to it until the last, when it was too
late. But at that it was only defeated by
five votes. Ny idea is that in the Senate it
would have had much clearer sailing. The
way things look to me all the old members
who voted for the bill will do SO again, and
look for its passage"
UNALTERABLE OPP osITIoN.
James W. Houston, Vice President of the
Law and Order Society, declared that they
were unalterably opposed to any change
from the present laws. sour Society has
considered this matter carefully, and we are
firm in our convictions They can race as
much as they want, but we are all opposed
to pool selling"
"what are your chief objections?" was
asked.
why, it leads young men astray, and
often they 90 to the excess of using money
that is obtained by questionable means, to
say the least voice the sentiment of all
the people interested in our work, as we
have thorough understanding.
Captain Wishart quite agreed with Mr..
Houston, and had nothing of consequence to
add to that gentleman's views.
Henry Mccullough, a well-known bust
ness man, said: 81 am in favor of legaliz-
ng pool-seiling on race tracks, but want it
confined strictly to these quarters. There
are hundreds and thousands of people in
this State who enjoy racing, and the only
way to insure good contests is to legalize the
matter of speculation. ! believe the bill
will come up again, and see no reason why
it will not pass. This talk about boys being
dragged into the vortex of gambling is nom
sense. There is not an association in the
State that would allow them to wager a dol
lar, even if they wanted to. During my
experience of some years 1 have never seen
anv young men ruined at the one or two
meetings held here yearly. Workingmen
bet money now and then, but they are
class of toilers who make $50 or $50 a week.
But, for that matter, if they wanted to risk
their money, they would do SO, pools or no
pools, In some form or on something"
AN OPPOSITE OPINION.
James Goldsmith was encountered at the
Monongahela Houss,,. He is the son of the
late Alden Goldsmith, who bred the famous
old queen of the turf at his Washington
vile IN. Y.) stock farm. The son inherited
the farm, and now has several worthy rep
resentatives OF the old maids sire (Volun-
teer) TO perpetuate his farm. Mr.. Gold
smith trots some of his horses, partly for the
financial sinews of war and partly for the
development of the qualities that make
them valuable for private sale. He said he
favored the idea of legalizing pool selling
on race tracks the same as had been done In
New York State.
There under the Ives bill the business
was confined strictly to the race courses,
and was kept to a very large extent among
horsemen, or men who made it business to
follow the horses from place to place. He
said the law gave general satisfaction and
wiped out all objections. He thought the
people of Pennsylvania, as whole, would
find a similar law the best way out of the
difficulty. About all the people he had
met held similar views, aud he thought
would be done at the coming
session OF the Legislature.
He added that under the present laws the
great California stables of Hickok, Marvin
and others, were afraid to come here and
take chances. He considered this one of
the greatest racing centers in the United
States, and knew an Eastern syndicate that
would rent the park at good round figures,
improve the track and make other necessary
repairs, provided the laws were modified.
If they were not, he feared the Grand Cir
cult would weary of the city.
Mr.. Van Osten, who acted as starting
Judge during the week, and who is Presi-
dent of Belmont Park, Philadelphia, favors
the passage of such a bill. He was not pre-
pared to say what would be done, but
thought steps would be taken this winter to
remedy matters.
CERTAIN TO COME UP.
Representative Richards, of this city, was