Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-08-30

bad policy. both for the jockey and for
those who have signed the document.
In the first place, the petition cannot be
based upon any positive or official
knowledge of the cause for Garrison's
punishment, and the Board OF Control
cannot legitlmately be asked to pardon
him for the commission OF some crime
of which the signers are ignorant. Gar
rison was suspended on what the Board
of Control called general principles"
further than that this august body
would not give any information to the
newspapers or to the public, Some as
serted he was punished for his riding OF
Judge Morrow; some asserted he was
punished for his riding of Esquimaux;
some asserted that he was punished for
threatening to throw Littleteld and
Russell over the fence; others said his
suspension from the list Of active jock
eys was caused by transactions con-
nected with the betting ring. The
Board OF Control did not deny or affirm
ANYTHING. 1t contented itself with the
vague announcement that the jockey
was suspended on general principles"
The Board of Control furthermore said
that the cause was good and sufficient,
Int that the public and hOrsemen were
not entitled to know upon what EVIL
dence, or because of what otfense the
punishment was brought about. 1t Is
manIfestly then, in the circumstances,
improper for any body Of men to sign
such a petition to the Board OF Control.
That netItion cannot effect the evddeSn oS
Ynop yhinh GArrtsnn VIZ sIa,..
It ought not to have any lnnuence
whatever in shortening by one day the
punishment which the Governing Board
thinks proper in the Jockeys case. In
fact, the petition would be rejected as a
piece OF impertinence II the Board OF
Control was vested with proper dignity.
II would be an entirely different case If
Garrlson's specific offense were known
to the sIgners Of the petition. They
might then be in position TO plead ex-
tenuating circumstances In his case;
they might be able to offer evidence
that would appeal to the clemency OF
the court that sentenced him. But,
wholly ignorant OF what the evidence
must have been, it is both presumptions
and impertinent to seek his reinstate-
ment by means of petition. 1t is not
very long since another jockey was re-
instated by newspaper men. Every
newspaper man who signed the petition
would have been instantly discharged
from his position as turf writer IL 1t
were known in his Office that he had
committed his newspaper in any such
way.
Personally / should like to see Garri-
son back in the saddle. Whatever &C.
tion the Board of Control takes in this
matter, whether it be tomorrow, next
day or a month from now, will no doubt
be satisfactory to the race-goers and
turfmen. But If the Board of Control
should reinstate Garrison this year 1t
ought, as a matter Of protection to the
public, publish the reasons that led to
Garrison's suspension. We all have
right to know on what evidence he was
kept from riding. we have a right to
know lust how strong the evidence OF
corruption and how far justified the
Board of Control, as the governing body
of the turf, was, either In the sentenc-
ing or the Communication Of 1t. Star
chamber proceedings against either
Jockey or trainer in the future will not
be good thing for the Board OF Con-
troll. The Board is the representative
of the public, or is the representative OF
nothing. There can't be too much
publicity of turf affairs that have come
under the public suspicion. There is
no reason why the conduct OF any
Jockey or trainer which affects the pub
lie or the public's pocketbook should
not be thoroughly known. Pursuance
Of the policy first brought into exist
ence In Garrison's case is sure TO hurt
the turf, and most persons will agree
with me in my assertion that the turf
at the present time cannot stand a great
deal Of public condemnation. II Garri-
son is to be reinstated, let us know why
be was suspended"