The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-09
PRESIDENT CAFFEE
ISSUES STATEMENT
Defines Position of State Fair on
Betting.
NO ATTEMPT TO BREAK LAW
More Stringent Gerry Law Held I'm
constitutional in New York-Po-
lice Commissioners Uphold
Chief Austin.

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1 desire to state, in justice to the 4
State Fair association, that there will
be four splendid running races and the =
great contest by the trotting bred 2 "
year-old Alabama-raised colts for the =
generous prize of $500 contributed by the =
Mobile and Ohio railroad. Thursday af- .
ternoon.
There will be no attempt by any one .
connected with the association to violate "
the law. The Fair association had let
the betting privileges that are recog-
nized by the laws of New York and have
stood the test in the highest courts of >
that state of the rigid and far-reaching
Gerry law. When these privileges were
let the Fair association was under the
belief that 1t was no violation of any
Alabama statute but as the authorities
saw proper to interfere with it by ar .
resting the owners of the privileges, the
Fair association a law-abiding cor
poration, yielded to the position taken
. by the officers of the law and abrogated
their contract with the privilege owners
until they receive some explicit con-
struction of the law by the courts.
The enemies of the State Fair assoeia-
y tion have presented and are constantly
presenting obstacles in the way of the
success of the fair, but the manage
ment are exerting their honest efforts
to overcome the difficulties that beset
D
tablishing this institution that promises
so much for the welfare of Alabama.
A. e. CAFFEE, President.
The above statement was prepared and
given out by Judge Caffee, president of the
State Fair association, last night. 1t means
that if Judge Feagin renders a decision
against the system of public betting en-
gagged in at the fair grounds on Monday all
of the events will be run off as If nothing
out of the ordinary had happened. The SEN
timent of the citizens is strongly in favor of
letting this system of betting continue, as
it greatly stimulates the sport.
Not Boolm king
The fair association claim that the bet
ting in the racing paddock was neither pool
selling nor bookmaking, but merely a con-
venient way of keeping a record of the bets
They say that none of the ticket sellers in
the booths held the money. They merely
deposit the money in box, and when the
winner presents his tickets the amount is
handed to him. This is the system used in
New York state, where the law against
pool selling and book making is equally as
rigid as that in vogue in Alabama
Hinges Judge Fcagin
The decision of Judge Feagin this morn
ing will settle the entire matter, and If the
police commissions request for a speedy
verdict is needed the public will probably
be put at rest on the question today.
In the meantime the crowds are eontinu-
ing to pour into the fair grounds, and
much interest Is being displayed in the
races as they are run. The management
states positively that the interference with
the betting will in no way stop any of the
races, and that all of them will be run in
regular order.
Meeting of Police Commission
The police commission held a special
meeting last might and a resolution was
passed Endorsing the action of Chief Aus
tin in making the arrests for violation of
the anti-pool selling law. The chief was
further instructed to continue to enforce
the law to the letter. Another resolution
asking Judge Feagin to render verdict as
early as possible SO that the question could
be definitely settled was unanimously pass
ed.
Hundreds of horsemen and the general
public are anxiously awaiting the outcome
of the trial. 1t was reported at one time
last night that arrangement by which
pools could be sold had been effected This
proved to be an erroneous impression.