The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-15
RACE TRACKS DENOUNCED
Ii'ih'heht Savannahian Hopes Wia>
ter Circuit Won't be FOrmed-Evs,
Influence Oh Young Men.

influence on Young Men.
Evidently Savannah does not take
kindly to the scheme Of Mr.. H n
Brown, to establish a racing c;rc,i,
IN several cities of the South this win.
ter.
The following article in the Savan.
nan Press calls out against the in.
Vaslon of the South by the ouste,
race track game promoters of tho
North:
The movement of some of those in>
terested in horse racing to establish
a new racing circuit which will in.
clude Savannah has excited some in.
terest in this city. The race horse
men have been legislated out of New
orleans and New York, and it is for
them to find more lucrative fields for
their operations in the future. Horse
racing without the "bookies" has no
charm for the man who follows the
game, and as there can be no bettins
IN either Louisiana nor New York,
the promoters Of the game are
seeking greener pastures-and mora
victims.
There recently came through Sa.
vannah gentleman whose purpose
was to interest the people in this city
IN plan to get a circuit that mieht
include Savannah and Charleston on
racing circuit. 1t was stated that
such a circuit would do Savannah a
great deal of good and would boom
the city. New Orleans was pointed
out as an example of a town built
up through horse racing. 1t was
stated that the many hotels in New
Orleans were supported by the racing
element.
Mr.. Louis p. Hart, president Of
the Savannah Ice Delivery Company
and of the Gorrie Ice Company, in
Savannah, is also at the head of the.
largest ice company in New Orleans.
He spends much Of his time in tho.
u
bad day for Savannah and for Geor-
gia if the racing game is ever allowed
to flourish in this city and state. as u
fourismed in New Orleans during re,
cent years.
IF there should ever come a time,-
said Mr.. Hart, in discussing the pro-
ssyrh -
ly planned to build a race track in
Savannah and have races on the same.
plan by which they were promoted
in New Orleans, it will be the duty Of
people of the State to rise up and;
quash the movement No legislation,
against horse racing can be too rigid.
Georgia would be taking a backward
step to permit horse racing and bet
ting on the races after other States
have run the gamblers out
This talk about horse racing builds
ing up New Orleans is all bosh and
buncomb. Such stories are put out
to deceive. One would be led to be-
lieve that the racing element had
built up New Orleans. This is not sos
The city has prospered despite the
racing element. The average race
horse follower is a leech He doesn't
leave anything in the city he visits nor
does he stop at the best hotels.
THE st. Charles Hotel i'm New Or
~ ,.fO
by the race track men. They flock
about the lobby in great hordes every
night, but not twenty-five of them
stop there a day during the entire.
season. They use the lobby as a rem.
devious and that is the extent of their
patronage.
There is another and very danger
Gus feature of the racing game that
the authorities should consider welt
if the plan to revive the sport in this
city assumes tangible shape. That is
the effect of racing upon the young.
men of the community. i had three
collectors for my company in New
Orleans go wrong and everyone Of
them became dishonest because OF
their love for the race track and the
desire TO bet that was thus fostered
within them. This same trouble has
ruined many young men in New Or
leans.
THE better element there is against
racing just as is the better element
anywhere. Georgia should follow
the example of New York and Louis
and making of books il there is q
serious effort made to foster such a
nefarious business upon the State,
And I believe she will too"