The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-04-13
AMERICAN LEAGUE oP sPoRrsMEN
Turfmcn Who Met AT Cincinnati Quickly
Formed an Association.

Cleveland, April 9-The convention OF
turfmen. called to organize a sporting
league. quickly concluded its business.
when it finally got to work this afternoon
Major =. z. Johnson, president OF the
National Trotting Association. was tenn
porary chairman. with w. III. Gocher or
Cleveland as secretarS. The committee
reported a charter. which gives the name
OF the organization as the American
League. and its object to encourage and
protect the many sports and the business
interests connected with them. The con-
stitutfon, which was adopted provides for
president, secretary and treasurer, and
vice presidents, each state having a subor-
dinate league, and also a board of control,
consisting of president and vice president.
The affairs of the league are to be manag-
ed by the board of control Subordinate
leagues must consist of not less than 10
members, the membership and officers to
be reported to the main league upon its
organization.
Major r. L. Johnson OF Lexington,
Kentucky, was elected president, with
vice president from each state.
This was probably the most important
convention of turfmen that has ever been
held in this country, the participants in
Guiding presidents of national trotting
| associations, delegates from over twenty
/ driving park associations, breeders, own
ers and representatives of agricultural So
cieties and horse show associations The
| call for the gathering originated with the
| Cleveland Driving Park Association, and
| its object is explicitly outlined in an ad-
dress signed by large number of prom
inent turfmen. In this they say
I'VE meet for the purpose of organic,
ing league to protect our manly sports,
pastimes and recreations of our people
| from hostile legislation and keep them on
SO high "A plane that just criticism of an
adverse character viii be impossible We
| recognize the fact that there are abuses
to correct and that an organization COM
| posed of the friends and active partici-
| pants in these recreations and the legit-
innate business incident to them win be
| powerful to accomplish the corrections,
and at the same time stand as a stone
wall against the unjust assaults of those
who have other interests or pleasures
or an overwhelming desire to NEEDLE with
the conduct of their neighbors. We trust
that every community feeling a pride in
the history and honorable character of
our pastlmes will cooperate for the estab-
lishment and maintenance of healthy reg
ulations consistent with personal liberty
and the law of the land. with such an
organization having its friends on guard
everywhere, we will have less to appre-
bend in future from the periodical cru
sades that have been so unjust to us in
the past"
Kentucky is represented by p. =. John
son, president Of the National Trotting
Association; IL. c. Mcdowell, president
Kentucky Horse Breeders Association;
Colonel e. Il. Clay, and j. M Camden.
From New York city and state are An
drew Miller president New York Driving
Club. and w. b. Fassig; from Rochester
George Archer, president of Rochester
Driving Park, and w. Bowman, the noted
lawyer, while from Buffalo c. J. Hamlin
the famous breeder, is here. Other cities
represented are Chicago, ST. Louis, st
Joseph, Mo-, Hartford, Conn, Des Moines
Iowa, Springfield, Mass, Saginaw. Mich.
! and Tiffin, o.