The San Francisco call., 1897-11-20
Charles T. Boots Was Elected
Temporary Presi-
dent.
ALL PRESENT PLEDGED 10 SECRECY
B,acllg Associations Will Not Be
: Dictated to and the Fight
Is On.

The Horsemen's Protective Association
is beginning to assume formidable pro-
portions and Ii hearsay goes for enything
trouble Is brewing for the Pacific Coasl
and California Jockey clubs.
A meeting was called last evening at
the Baldwin Hotel by the prime movers
in The new organization. 1t was largely
attended ana all present were pledged TO
secrecy.
Between thirty and forty of the most
prominent horsemen at present domiciled
in this State signed the roll OF mem ber-
ship. Who they were is merely problem
atical but as Charles Boots of Elm wood
stock farm fame, Sam Hidreth, Dan
Honig, Hugh Jones, By Holly, James
Neil, Frank Taylor, trainer for E. J.
Baldwin, Tom Lottridge, Billy Muir,
Louis Ezell, W. D. Randall. owner of
Ostler Joe, Jack Atkin and Frank
Van Ness were observed during the
early hours of the evening earnestly en-
gagged talking in groups of twos and
threes In the rotunda of the hotel, it is
more than likely they are interested in the
agltH tlon.
From horseman present it was learned
that c. J. Boots was elected temporary
president and J. ?. Akin temporary Sec
retary.
Very little could be cleaned as to what
came up before the meeting. Publicly,
though, many of the horsemen say that
one thing the assoc alton Will insist on is
4 division Of the scratch money between
the second and third horses. At Ingle-
side track this money is apportioned at
the rate OF 90 and 40 per cent to the horses
finishing second and third respectively,
and thew want the California Jockey Club
10 fall IN line.
One owner IS quoted as winning a $500
urse, OF which his snare was 1925 and
hing to deduct from this amount S110,
t1e the Oakland association for scratch
ing entries.
There is still another grievance to be
remedied. which was accidentally popped
fr1m a soda bottle that was opened in a
corner. The new organization, ii it as
sumes definite form, will insist that the
entry box be Kept securely locked until
the lime designated FOR the osing OF
entries, and that al that time the entry
clerk snail publicly announce each entry
contained therein.
After the meeting, Assem- bled like Cuban
patriots unwilling to accept autonomy, the
horse men said they have got nothing but
the worst OF 1t for years from racing asso-
Citations througAo out the country and that
the time has arrived for them TO proclaim
their rights" There has been some talk
aIOullI Ol OhEeIS DS4IB 4Il4l1Ad alCA " an
the threat of having their badges taken
up if they took part in the new movement,
but those spoken to on the subject say
they are ready and willing to surrender
their badges on tie mere asking.
The woes and grievances OF the horse
men are proba bly, given thorough vent in
the following statement prepared by
Charles T. Boots and sent to The CALL
last evening for publication:
Wa did inland n YnoL apv cfa taTna0t
but The California Jockey Club has made
lis statement through Its president 1t is
necessary hat We should set ourselves in the
ne IGht before the general PUBIC The
horsemen OF CaIfOrn ia have been agitatIng
for the last two or three years some kind of
an organ'ZttiOn among themselves. and a
long ago as September 1895, they drew up
the constitution and bylaws which were
adopted bv the present organization, not even
the name b.lng changed.
We Iitt.e thought OF the rumpus 1t would
raise l spoke 10 D. N. Burns bout the mat
ter in Sepiem Der, 1895, AL d it seemed 10 meet
with his approval. How things change. We
were mucn surprised at the stand taken by
Mr.. Williams, stating that If we dared 10 or
ganiZe, matter what our intentions
were, our badges would likely be taken
", ard we would not be allowed to race on
the Oakland track; and for that matter, be
did not think, on any track In California If
Mr.. Williams remarks are the facts, how
much more we surely need an organization OF
the kind We have. When free American
ci-izens cannot organize an association for the
TroIection OF our interests, Tor honest racing
and promoting good feeling among ourselves,
then II is time for US to stop racing, and the
sooner our badges are taken up and the gates
are closed against US the better it Will be tor
all.
feel sure that the unbiased public will say
that there are just as honorable men in the
"CaIifornia Breeders and Owners Associa-
tlon" as here are out OF it l Tor one nave
raced my horses the best l know now. |
have raced Tor the purses alone. /
have never bet cent on a horserace
for myself in my life. I have met with
fair success, and if 1t has come to the
pass that I cannot race so any longer
/ for one am ready to say farewell 10 the
turf in California and give up my badges
without having Mr.. Pinkerton's men come
down and take them.
I speak Tor myself and the other ones
pledged 10 follow me. We meant no harm;
we have done no i'll; we have asked nothing,
NEW TODAY