The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-29
Rumor Opens Old Jericho"
But Facts Close it
up Again.
PLAN IS NOT FEASIBLE
Mayor Busse Would Not Stand for
the Transplanted Betting
Ring g Minute.

a rumor got loose in south ChicaN
and Hammond yesterday that the old
Roby race track. which was abandon
ed to the bats and sparrows several
years ago. was about to be rehabil-
itated and again devoted TO the pur-
pose for which IL was constructed.
The rumor had a plausible air and
many We're found to take ii seriously.
Several persons loosely described as
Chicago race track men" were said
to have been seen inspecting the dill
apidated buildings and fences and the
weed grown ellipse over which the
horses used 10 cavort In the good old
days" when the place furnished an ex-
change for some Of the speculative
capital of Chicago and employment for
nearly all Of the shrewd or able bodied
men OF Hammond VINO were alive TO
their opportunities.
The fact that Mayor Busse in a
complacent mood after election said
that he believed in the restoration of
horse racing-his belief OF course con-
templating the betting adjunct. out
side Of which there is no objection to
the sport.
There are no race tracks available
within the corporate limits Of Chicago.
Washington park is no more and Har-
4 lem, Hawthorne and Worth are out in
the country over which States Attorney
IIealy. pledged to suppress racing and
keep it suppressed, exercises the final
guess.
States Attorney Healy is inexorable.
He Is as determined now as he was on
the day of his election TO keep his
word, or at least so it would seem
from his recent utterances. Mr.. Healy
also exercises prosecutive Jurisdiction
over Chicago. but It rs not probahIe
that the machinery of his office would
have much effect within the city in
the face Of Mayor Buses tolerance,
connivance or protection.
Beyond the Fence, Chicago.
The backstretch Of the Roby race
track marks the state line Beyond
that fence lies Chicago. The mooted
plan was 10 move the grandstand and
betting ring from the Indiana side OF
the track TO the Illinois side where
the bookmakers would be out OF the
range OF the guns OF Governor Hanly
and behind the breast works thrown
up by Mayor Busses belief in horse
racing"
Those who evolved the plan If such
a plan really was evolved. evidently
did not place the right Interpretation
upon Mayor Buses remarks. When
Mayor Busse said he believed in horse
racing he was thinking OF Washington
Park with its air OF fashion and gem
tility and its gorgeous Derby which
meant so much to Chicago in a busi-
ness and social way.
It is not likely that Mayor Busse
would stand for the Roby subterfuge
long enough to boil an egg.
However. all doubts on the subject
were dispelled when John Condor
talked over the telephone last night.
Mr.. Condor. although blind, can see
more into the future Of racing around
Chicago than any other man. For
good and sufficient reason he abandon-
ed Roby even before he had TO.
Mr.. Condor said:
Absolutely nothing in lit Is RI
diculous on the face OF IT. 10 you sup
. pose the Illinois authorities would
stand for such an arrangement one
minute2 1t is an old plan and one I
had handed to me fifteen years ago.
Some persons may have been discus
sing such a plan. but It is a mere
! dream pipe dream"
That settles that. The Glucose trust
can have Roby and al the appurten-
ances thereto belonging.