Mower County transcript., 1903-04-01
STATE FAIR GAMBLING.

a.$'5szs4 $50 rsEs a5s%Tss.ss2; :. ss55Ssss
in the Legislature by
Gamblers to get Control
), Of State Fair Grounds. (!
"a ---,.
; ltis not very complimentary to our
estate legislature to notice what outrag-
eous and iniquitous measures are pre-
sented before it by people who think
they can successfully work through
their measures in defiance of public
sentiment and in opposition to public
interest. Probably no measure has
awakened SO much righteous indigna-
tion throughout the whole state as the
recent introduction of a bill to turn
over the magnificent property of the
Minnesota state fair grounds to Chica-
go gamblers for almost eleven months
of the year, if they see fit to occupy it
for that length Of time, and the board
Of managers Of the State Fair associa-
tion to have no voice whatever in the
matter. ~ 80. ....51s- r
The bill is entitled can act to encour-
age the breeding of thoroughbred hors-
es, and to provide for and regulate the
holding of racial meetings Of the same"
The bill in itself seemed innocent
enough until it was discovered that the
organization seeking to have the bill
passed is to make it's own rules and
regulations, and the anti-pool selling
bill passed in 1895 is repealed SO far as
this association is concerned. H.
Not satisfied with the repeal OF the
anti-pool selling law the bill provides
that it shall not be competent for any
city or municipality..within the state Of
Minnesota, or any of it's agents or Off
GERS, to impose by ordinance or other
wise, any license or restriction, other
than is imposed by the act, or BY the
statutes of the state of Minnesota.
The bill provides that the Minnesota
State Agricultural society shall deliver
to the Minnesota Horse Breeders asso-
citation lease of the grounds or so
much as the association may require
for its use for a continuous period Of
forty i've days during the months of
June and July, and the association is
to be allowed ten days time to put
them in the same condition as they
were before the meeting. -
The lease is to be for a period of five
years at an annual rental of $500,
with the privilege of renewal, should
the Breeders association desire it, after
the first five years. This paltry sum is
offered for the use of property that
should bring nearer 100000 rental if
the cost of the property and improve
ments on it were.consldered.
Those favoring the bill are determin-
ed to press it through to favorable
passage and their attorneys have
threatened the board of managers Of
the State Agricultural Society that
unless the board gave the bill it's in
dorsement they would see that all of
the appropriations made by the legisla-
ture for the state fair would be helh up
and promise all sorts of trouble unless
it would give consent to the passage of
the bill.
On the other hand the board of state
fair managers claims that if the present
bill is passed there is nothing to pre-
vent3 the Minnesota Horse Breeders
association from occupying the fair
grounds for:eleven months in the year.
It will make its own governing rules
and regulations and instead of simply
holding racing meet for forty five
days in the year will be selling pools on
all the races run in the country the
year round. It would be able to oust
the present board of managers from its
present quarters and occupy them ex-
cept during the state fair and the
twenty y-ive days previous. =
It is also claimed that twenty. five
days before the opening Of the fair il
altogether too short q time to prepare
for the.fair. The sale Of privileges il
held at least two months before the
opening :sofJthe fair, and the rental Of
the grounds to other parties would in
terfere with this. .s..3 d
The fair management points to the
fact that during the old days Of poo
selling and for q number Of years pre-:
vious to its abolishment the expenses
Of the:state fair were greatly in excess
Of the receipts, but as soon as pool sell
ing was abolished in the state the re
ceipts exceeded the expendit