St. Paul daily globe., 1894-02-05
SHALL THERE Be UNION !?
EoRsE ASSOCIATIONS TRYING TO GET
7CGETHER.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON WRITES.

to Join With the American As
sociation Under Certain Con-
ditions-D:ck Moore Is TO Meet
Creedion in Three Weeks
Other Sporting News.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 4.-The following
letter from President Z. ii. Johnson mas
been received by members OF the Ma
tional rrotting association:
Lexington, KY, Feb. Ii nave
thought that the trotting horse interests
of this country required that all dlf1er-
ences in the administration OF the rules
governing them should be healed, anu
during the time | have been president
of the national trotting association Its
affairs have been administered not only
70 avoid raising any obstacles III the
conSummation of such PURPOSE
but to remove such as might
present themselves unbdden. There
fore, the American association
found it altogether consistent
with its dignity to propose conter-
ence of committees of the two aSSocla-
tions to consider what might be Jointly
done to advance the general welfare.
The National association promptly met
this overture, and the joint committees,
after patient and labor:Ous consldera-
ton, agreed 10 recommend 10 their re
Spective associations the same set OF
rules. This promised to accomplish all
that the most sanguine friends or the
trotting horse could reaonably hope TOT
from the governing powers. The joint
report was promptly concurred In
by the congress of the American
association. but before the special
congress of the National associa ion,
10 which it was TO be submitted, could
meet, its minor details had arrested
attention, were extensively discussed,
and The general opposition, the most
important presented at ii congress of
the association since its dismember-
ment, was for the time lost sight of.
The idea of amalgamation, which had
been cherished by those who apprecI-
ated the anomaly of two independent
powers without conference or cO-opera-
tion. ruling on the same subject matter.
in the same territory, was abandoned,
and its advantages were proposed, i'll
committee report, to be secured by
uniform set OF laws to be administered
independently by the two associ-
atiOns, with an agreement of
each to enforce the penalties
of the other. The question of long and
short distance. which eclipsed all others
iii the minds of many gentlemen, and
received exclusive attention at the
hands of the special congress, was a
matter OF detail that could have been
arranged by the different courses. or by
either of the governing associations,
each to suit itself, without materially
affecting the main question, agreement
or difference; could not have been of
vital importance, though. of course. it
would be great convenience, and save
much confusion if agreement could
also be had in these comparatively
small matters. With view to
accord on questions of detail,
and as safeguard to the
system sought to be established, per-
mament joint committee was recon-
mended with power to settle differences
that might arise between the two
branches, and from time 10 time make
such suggestions as it might deem
necessary to promote the passing and
SitltllLISl4 VI laws.
Neither association would surrender
one jot OF Its independence by this
arrangement; each would. however, be
bound by the decisions of the joint com
mittee in ali-matterS of differences SUBJ
mitted 10 it. Yet Il suggestion from
the committee to the law-making pow
ers would have only the force that wis
dom would give, united with the
universal conviction that uniform
laws, harmOniouSly administered,
would be best for all con-
cerned. The special congress merely
voted on the question of distance. re-
ferred the report to the regular congress
and adjourned. While the report fell
lar short OF an expression of confidence
in the work of the committee, it was
probably hostile 10 consideration at that
time rather tran to the purpose of the
report. Nothing has since occurred,
that am aware of, to embaraSo comSld-
Grafton by the coming congress, which
meets i'll New York on the l4th inst
The association has in recent years been
aSsailed in the courts aid elsewhere, but
it has lost none Of its power, dignity or
usefulness. These attributes may be
much strengthened by Il wise perform
ance OF the important duties devolving
on the congress. We hope to see every
member strongly represented. Respect
fully, L. ii. JOHNSON.