Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-07
HORSE BREEDERS PLEA.
Urge the Missouri Legislators to Pass
the Anti-POoI Room
Measure,

Jefferson City, Mo-, Feb. 6.-(Special) The
Missouri Horse Breeders Association has
prepared and is distributing the following
| circular among the members of both houses
| in support of its bill to confine the selling
of pools to race tracks between April Is
! and November !, and between the hours OF
| 8 a. m. and p. m:
| "Under a decision of the supreme court,
| recently rendered, the laws of 1891 and 1885
regulating pool selling have been declared
unconstitutional. AS result of this decis-
| ion numerous pool rooms have been opened
| in the cities, and are now being conducted
on trials of speed, tests of strength and
other events transpirinS anywhere in
"If some law is not enacted placing these
| gambling devices under strict control, 1t
| may be confidently expected that all turf
events and trials of speed will speedily de-
generate into a mere incident to diSreputa-
Bile gambling hells. The horse breeders of
this state, as represented by an association
organized January 10, 1897, feel that there
is no reason why Missouri should not lead
in the production of high class turf and
business horses, but feel that night and
winter racing, on disreputable tracks.
merely to satisfy the greed OF the gam
bling element will degrade their improved
animals, discourage fancy breeding. and
prove fatal to the horse interests o. the
state.
on speed events cannot b prohibited, but
believe that it may be so regulated as to
eliminate many of its evil features, and SO
as to admit of legitimate exhibitions of
speed intended to encourage the breeding
and development of horses, to the practi-
cal exclusion of the evils incident to gam
THE Breeders Association, through its
executive committee has formulated a bill
retaining the salutary features of the old
law and avoiding its constitutional defects.
This proposed law prohibits pool selling or
book making without license. 1t must
be conducted only on a reputable track, be-
tween the hours of 10 a. m. and Z p. m. of
the day and on the track where the event
is to take place The applicant must be
of good character; shall not sell to minors;
can procure license only between the 18th
day of April and the 1st day of November,
for not less than three days nor more
than ninety days at any one time: and for
such license to sell auction pools, make
books or register bets, shall pay $2 per
Gay for each or either business so con-
Quoted.
amount to S5 900 or 5000 per annum, and
the horse breeders have provided in this
bill that this sum. having been collected in
control and regulation of an evil incident
to the horse industry, shall be appropriat-
ed for an annual exhibition of all classes
of horses. and for such speed events as
may be deemed profitable and in the inter
est of the full developmnt of Missouri
horses.
dation stock for high grade of improved
horses than Missouri. But few, If any,
states can furnish better representatives
of each class of horses Kentucky has pur-
chased her best saddlers of Missouri. Our
trotters and PAGERS go down the Grand
circuit each season, winning money for their
owners and honors for the state. Our thor
oughbred harems are royalty bred and
have descended from long line of winners
of classic events.
with the enactment OF this law for the
control of the disreputable methods and
the greed of the gambler, and providing
for revenue for an annual exhibition where
our horsemen and our improved animals
may be brought together where we may
he informed of what we have and indicate
10 the world what we are doing, Missouri
should take the lead in the production of
a high class of horses. should direct the
buyers to our breeding establishments
take that rank among the breeders of the
world to which we are entitled, advance
the price of every improved horse in Mis-
souri, and make the business not only one
of pleasure to the admirer of the horse,
but profitable 70 the breeder.
IT you favor this bill, with the provis-
ions herein set forth, the Breeders Associ-
alton would be pleased to have you take
such action as will aid in Its passage and
secure the salutary results we confidently
expect from its enactment"