Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-11-11
THE NELSON CASE.
JOSEPH BATTELL,
Middlebury, Vt.

If there were any further evidence
necessary as to the truth of the state
ment made months ago in the Horseman
that the Nelson case, whatever its origi-
nal merits were. has long since ceased to
be a question of turf morals and is now
merely one of turf politics-and the ward
politics of the turf at that-a matter OF
personal vndictiveness and persecution,
1t was furnished last week at Spring
geld Mass. where Nelson trotted in
2:1ld, breaking the track record ''in
spite of the powers that be- as the pre-
siding official announced. President
Powers. of the local trotting association,
was treasurer of the National Trotting
association during the Vail regime and
still holds that office. lie has also been
mayor of Springfield and thus man of
some prominence. When the fair as
ISOLATION announced as an attraction
that Nelson would trot at Hampden
Park, President Powers saw a chance to
distinguish himself, and swore by all
the Roman gods that the feet of the
Maine stallion would never desecrate
the immaculate soil of IIampden. He
was going to nail up the gates and what
not, according to the local papers. Mr.
Elliot, the president of the agricultural
society. does not seem to be scary gen
tleman. lie had advertised that Nelson
would trot and he proposed to keep
faith with the public. In short, he
"called" Mr.. Powers bluff and ''raised
him out" to borrow phrases from pro-
fame history. a Springfield paper
naively remarks:
William Elliott was early upon the
grounds, and let his mare and phaeton
stand in the gateway. He also had a
hammer in his carriage, curiously enough,
and it is said the tool did some rapid eX'
ecution.
Nelson trOtted.
The unnecessary fuss and buncombe
precipitated the ralling up of old scores
in the Springfield papers. and President
Powers, Judging from the tone of the
local papers, was not supported by the
people of Springfield, and all in all got
much the worst of the battle. The
comments of the Springfield press are
very caustic, and it is threatened in re-
taliation for Mr.. Powers uncalled fol
interference with the agricultural so
ciety that he may encounter difficulties
at his next grand circuit meeting. But
we hope his threat Will not be carried
out.
As the agricultural society is not 6
member of the National Trotting asso
citation, that association had no more
jurisdiction over its races than it hat
over the Boston track the day Nelson
and Alcryon trotted. For that reason
Mr.. Powers attempted interference was
ill-advised and proved futile.
The people of Springfield showed thei
understanding of the whole affair by
presenting the Nelson's with handsom,
silver service as souvenir of the oc
casion. The persons engaged in hound
ing the Maine man are gradually forcing
public sympathy toward him. The ques
ton is now quite well understood in tn
public mind where the love of fair pla,
is strongly intrenched.-L Chicago Horse
man.
We heartily endorse the IIorseman'
opinion that the war against Nelson l
mere persecution. 1t has an object, how
ever-if he can be kept off all first elias
tracks till he is too old to endanger tn
stallion record, the end sought by thos
interested in his rivals and their familie
will have been gained. They will re
instate him when he is twenty.