The San Francisco call., 1895-12-18

as has already been shown, is an injustice to
the American system. Next to the last para
best way to crush out this evil thoroughly is to
pass a law making bookmaking in any shape
or form illegal. That might seem too drastic a
measure, but it would effect q radical cure"
were 1t feasible to separate the English from
the American and French systems and exclude
"bookmaking in any shape or FORM" there
would be state of affairs" which would
please me exceedingly-a better situation, in
my opinion, for all concerned, excepting the
"pencllers" and their employees. The French
system alone is found to be all that is needed
IN that country; that and the American ample
ior this. majority, however, favor bookmak-
ing; but when it is taken into consideration
that, with the exception of obsolete statutes in
lew States. there was no opposition to racing
until the English plan of betting on races was
adopted and very littie probability of adverse
leglslatlon, even its most ardent supporters
must admit that the adoption was 1l-timed
ana great misfortune to racing and trotting.
many OF the English innovations, and it may
DC that this bias is nearly akin to prejudice.
BE that as it may, there are millions who agree
WITH me that English domination and
diplomacy. which has resulted in England's
aggrandizement, to the serious detrment of
TINS country, must be replaced by American
systems.
There is no doubt that true American will
take the place of the anglicized executive
a1ter the next Presidential election, and should
such thing again happen that an American
ambassador vilifies his country in his speeches
on foreign soil, the ak will fall ere the wire
ceases to vibrate which brought the intelli-
gence: Not recall. Popular feeling so strong
uhder the pressure of American sentiment
that IN imitation of the first great American
traitor the country he serves will be his future
habitation.
oDllgatlons to the "mother country" The
foundation and subsequent improvement OF
racehorses and fast trotters came from there.
with so few exceptions, that outside of late
lINDOrtatlOnS from Australia and connie
from France, there is no other blood in our
racehorses. Fast trotters are still more indebted
10 English progenitors, the only one of any
note or other breeding being the imported
lrlpol1tan barb, Grand Bashaw.
American racing has been put on a more
popular basis by the introduction, In late
years, OF English methods, but these united
obligations do not compel the adoption of all
that Is English, good and bad dindiscriminately.
W hlle America obtained the foundation of her
World-famed fast trotters from England that is
all the share Of the glory that can be awarded.
SO far is England outclassed in the
race In which light.harness horses figure
24O yards in heats OF tour miles to
be accepted as the limit with the length of the
course reduced TO one mile, the best of the
English would be behind the flag. And yet
fuu OF the notion that whatever is English is
proper form, "Anglomaniacs' in this coun-
try strive to replace the "truly American"
horse, which has not peer for all kinds of
harness work, excepting heavy draft, with the
English hackney, English and other foreign
coach horses, and with them the short dock,
partly denuded OF hair; the heavy "trap," in
place of the American road wagon in fact all
the English notions, however absurd, however
repugnant to the great body of the American
people.
l am charged with being prejudiced, being
behind the times in not encouraging all the
foreign innovations as improvements on
methods. American customs and,
American horses. Short docks have
certainly the sanction of antiquity. There is
an old plate, "a View OF Horse Match at
Newmarket, between Grey Windham and Bay
Bolton, painted from the life by that cele-
brated artist, Mr.. John Wootton,' and both
are represented with very short caudal append
ages. Bay Bolton was foaled in 1905, so that
the age of the. practice is not far from 200
years, though the "up-to-date" notion may be
making the tail an inch shorter and closer
plucking of the hairs.
Book betting is quite as ancient. and though
holding stick by the ferule, and some others
among the minor details of the horse show, are
ater-day practices, the general trend was
toward the long, long ago.
Jos. CAIRN SIMPSON.
Oakland, December 16, 1895.