The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-03

tensive and striking series of running races ever held in the south, and in the fall will have a harness meeting with s20- ooo lining up for purses.
 There is no denying that the men who have made the Matinee club a fact and factor In the future social life of this metropolis. are true sportsmen, and properly endued with the spirit which should animate that class of men. They are largely business men and professional men, and the new membership will par take of the same character. And, yet, there Is a universal feeling of satisfac- ton among the membership that liquor will not be sold on the grounds and that the club Is entirely indifferent as to whether pool-selling is ever again per mitted in Alabama or not. Certain 1t is that the Matinee club is basing none Of it's calculations on the enactment of q pool law. 1t is prepared to offer purses of number and amount sufficient to se- cure for Birmingham the best possible horses, and the best possible races. The betting tastes of members or of visitors will be a matter entirely apart from the clubs eognizance, and will not be gov erned, so far as the club is concerned, by anything except the state laws, and municipal regulations. Nothing counter venlng the laws will be tolerated or wink ed at.
 When divorced from the reckless gam bling spirit which so often disgraces the race track there is absolutely no sport in the world equal to that of the race course. From the earliest ages 1t has been the sport of kings which no man was too humble to enjoy, and it's hold upon the human mind and heart has grown with the growth of civilization. Perhaps there Is not a community in the world more fond of a good horse race than that of the Birmingham district, and it is the purpose of the Matinee club to appeal to this taste in proper and refined way The club members would not wish to monopolize the sport for 1 themselves, even if that were possible l but of course, members will enjoy some 1 privileges at the park which are not l available for any except members. Lists l of names are now being made out of
 those who are to be invited by the or l ganizers of the club to become active 1 charter members. The fee will be $25 for l the first year for those who join before l August l. when the annual dues will be l raised to $50. The charter members will be entitled to the right to remain in the I club each succeeding year for $2o Tee, and all members will receive certificate which will entitle them to admission for 1 all entertainments held at Trotwood park. 1 Every dollar received by the club, after 1 the payment of expenses whether from | membership dues or gate receipts, Will De
 devoted to the improvement and adorn- ment of the park to purses for races ana
 for the giving of special entertainments. The Matinee club is maturing some at l tractive plans which it is not yet pre- pared to make public. The officers de- 1 sire to have the public fully understand l that all lovers of good horses are eligible l to membership on the above terms, and
 that applications sent in with member
 ship fees will be promptly acted on. In lease of a rejection remittance will De 1 returned at once. Such applications are l cordially invited, as 1t is not possible for l officers and members to know the names and addresses of all who ought to be- l long this club of up-to-date horsemen and l lovers of the turf. The committee on mem- ] bership will present certificates as rapidly 1 as possible to those on accepted lists and
 the club confidently expects that the 1 membership will reach the 300 mark With l in thirty days.
 MT. Jemison will soon present proposl-
 ton to his board of directors to extend a
 loop of the East Lake lines into Trot-
 wood park, and he says that when the entertainments there are begun, he will run through trains from Bessemer and l Ensley to the park in about forty-five
 minutes at the one fare.
 1 The officers of the club are as follows: | President. Culpepper Exum; secretary, ] and treasurer, w. R. Gum; assistant secretary and business manager, J. A. Mcknight.
 The organizing membership of the club includes the following well-known buI- l ness men:
 P G. Bowman, Dr. A. Gibson, Otto Marx, w s. Moughon, w. H. Johnson, E. Wilkinson, W. w. Crawford P. c. Shook, w. A. Porter Wilson R. Brown, Jos. H. Montgomery, J. T. Glover, Louis Minor J. AL Miner.eW. C. Agee. David J. Fox, J. A. Mcknight, R. M. Jenkins, Albert Stradford. Felix F. Blackburn, Jas. l.. Tanner, Wm M. Drennen, Hugh Morrow, A A. Gambill, Walter Moore George Boss of Ensley, James M. Per lSins of Ensley, R. W. Cobb of Woodlawn, F. B. Daniel of Avondale, W. G. Luns- for, George Ward, R. F. Berry of Ens- ley. Charles E. Trout. w. c. Shackel- ford.
 The board of directors consists of P. G. Bowman D. A Fox A A. Gambill, Gull pepper Exum. R. M. Jenkins, Hugh Nor