The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-09-01
Discourtesy to the Press.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: The
journal of last week gave as d reason for
not making report of the races of the Waldo
Horse Breeders Association that "reporters
We're dlscourteously refused the privilege of
the judges stand:" and it added ''this was
done by order of the president
lregret very much that the Journal should
consider the exclusion of reporters from the
Judges stand-even if done by order of the
presldent-as an act OF discourtesy. The
question of courtesy was not tinvolved in it
II was simply question of duty. The rules
require it. Rule "A says:
None but the judges Of tile race in pro-
greSs, the clerk of the course or secretary,
and their assistants shall be allowed in tile
judges stand during the pendency Of IA heat
And 1t shall be deemed derelicton IF duty
Tor any member not to enforce the rule
Ihe Association has desired to enforce
this rule at its meetings. 1t constructed its
judges stand with a gate at the bottom Of the
STAIRS to be opened only by the Judges.
1t has repeatedly called the atten-
ton OF the Judges to the rule. Its presi-
dent has excluded himself from the
stand in observance of the rule, although
repeatedly asked by the Judges to take a
seat iii it. But tits true, as the Journal, saws,
that other persons than those allowed by
the rule nave heeii heretofore present in tie
stand. The judges themselves lave com
planned Of this and have asked the Assucia-
llol W give bHeIl tine exclusive Use U1 the
stand. Although it was their duty to ex-
clude they have not had the nerve to DO it,
Owners and drivers of horses have complain
ed that the rule was not observed and the
Association has been accused OF Il derelction
of duty.
Of late the turf papers have been full of
complaints OF the non-obSerVance of this rule
by various associations. A rule imposing
severe penalties upon Judges who fail to en-
force it has been advocated. Hence the
president OF this Association considered it
his duty to again call the attention of the
judges to the rule and ask them to enforce it,
He was asked if they should admit the re-
porters for newspapers and replied that the
rule made no exceptions, and that the re-
pOrters could have the exclusive use of the
room underneath, | may add that this was
originally designed mainly for that purpose.
The use of 1T by the press would be in ac
cordance with the custom generally prevail
ing. AT the State fairs at Bangor and Lew
iston the reporters are not allowed in the
judges stand but have quarters overhead.
On other tracks they have a place assigned
them above OF below the judges on the
grandstand. Our Association will gladly
give reporters all privileges they can right
fully bestow.
The Journal further says ''After a concern
has asked for, and received, at least S25
worth of gratuitous advertising it is ex-
tremely mean to refuse the paper the privil-
The ''concern''-or the Association, as it
seems more proper to call it, acknow lodges
its obligations to the journal and the Age
for their publication of matter relatingto the
Association as also to many outside papers
that have voluntarily copied these notices
If the Journal has done this solely as favor
to the Association, and not for the benefit of
its readers, and to maintain its high charac
ter as a newspaper it was certainly very
generous on its part. Respt, ETC.,
WM. c. MARSHALL,
Pres. Waldo III. B. Associations
The writer has been on a good many race
tracks in different parts OF the country, and
i'll every instance representatives of the
press, if not admitted to the Judges stand
We're provided with quarters epuallya rs good
No such rule as mentioned ly Mr.. Marshall
has ever been enforced i'll this city OF county,
and it would have been only courteous to
have notified the newspapers of their pro-
posed exclusion, instead of shutting the door
in their faces when they went to the park to
report the races. AS to the advertising we do
consider that the amount of matter publish
ed far exceeded the news limit, and it was
published as a favor to the Association, and
not for the benefit of the readers
1T also appears that there was a 'uereic-
tion of duty on the part of some one at the
Very race when rule n was 50 rgidly enforc-
ed. Rule 20 says, in substance. that all
horses entering into race Shall carry
weight, $50 pounds. If the drivers are under
$50 the suky has To he weighted to that
amount In the very first race at the recent
trot, this rule was disregarded. Some one
lacked the ''nerve'i to enforce that rule, al
though the president himself found fault.
Il. II. Stanley, of the Commercial, was in
the judges stand at Maplewond Tuesday and
announced the various events. Bangor
Daily News Aug 81.