The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-06
AUGUST BELMONT
WRITESALETTER
Denies That He Expended a
Dollar to Improperly lnflu-
ence Legislation.
LITIGATION COST MONEY
Banker Insists That he Did Not Soil
His Name in Fighting
Racing Bills.

New NMIA. NNNN. D. n NNlNAAWA MAafsN
too emphatic the statement that have
never. directly or indirectly, in person
or through any corporation or tndivid-
uafs contributed. authorized or ad-
tfsed the expenditure Of a single dol
Jar improperly TO influence legislative
action. nor have ] been asked to do
e0F
August Belmont. chairman OF the
Jockey club. makes this statement IN
a letter to NJ. Linn Bruce. chief coun-
sci FOR the legislative investigating
committee before which he was a Wit
ness last week.
Tho letter was made public tonight
with n brief letter from =. X. Stur-
gie. treasurer Of the Jockey club. cay
Ing that he himself was IN error when
he testified recently that James W.
Wadsworth r.. speaker OK the state
assembly. recommended ~ counsel for
the racing interests r. r. Coyne OF
Livingston county. This rccommenda-
ton. ne adds. came from the elder
Wadsworth. state commissioner OF rae
ing.
BcImont's Letter.
Mr.. ReImonts letter SAYS in part.
ssThe great bulk OF my time is de-
voted 20 the manage ment Of my bank
ing and railroad Interests. and I now
repeat what 7 stated 70 your commit
toe that the sweeping allegation Of
corrupt use of money to influence
legislation was n matter OF which II
ought TO DO presumed was ignor-
ant.
"The CLAIM, IS made. ~ understand
It. that money was used TO bride the
members Of the legislature OF 1908 TO
vote against the Hart-Agnew law. on
this assumption let US look at the
Facts The evidence before your COM
rnittec shows the existence OF some
a.
ritorv OF Greater New York and vi
cinitv with but one or which. the
Westchcetcr Racing association, have
any connection.
20 also been chairman OF the
DO. stewards Of the Jockey club
since ne rrgauization fifteen years
ago. For some fourteen years. rum
ming back 60 the time Of the passa &c
OF the percy-Grav Law. the racing in
terests have always been involved I'm
numerous and expensive htigations
calling for the expenditure Of very
large sums OF money and the rcten-
ton or n small army or lawyers.
General Supervisor only.
INV interest in racing as a sport has
prompted me 20 maintain a general
ana not n special supervision Of the
amounts 81 money that were being exc
ncudcd hv the associations. It would
was paid 20 Judge Coyne for services
rendered by him before the legislature
and elsewhere in behalf of racing in
terrats
This money was paid him before
the legislature OF 1908. which passed
the law Gripping rncinE. came into ex-
f-tence. To this most. n not all. of
the associations contributed.
40 suggestion was ever made 20
me that his bills covered any improper
disbursements. or that our moneys had
Ieeu iu 1907. or I'm any other year
used iu improperly influencing the
legislature.
I'm 19GS. the Hart-Agnew law hav-
ing been passed while I was IN Eu-
rope. 7 undertook on my return. after
consultation with my associates. the
disbursement OF such portion or the
$4,000 testified 60 before your com
mittce iu publicity and legal services
as might be able 20 arrange. and th'
items Of moneys paid out from suct
fund have been correctly given YOU.
Does Not SbirIS Responsibility.
II I'm no way shiriS my share OF tn
responsibility. but that the publi'
should be persuaded into belief b,
Juggling with figures that have soile'
my name by STOPPING TO cover up un
der tie guise OF lawyers bills an'
newspaper expenditure the bribinl
Of members OF the legislature. Is
position in which no fair-minded maj
would wish 20 place me.
''Nor shall ever consent % believe
until the proof is overwhelming 70 N
contrary. that any or my associate
were party 90. or cognizant OF. an
opposition 20 anti-racing legislation
which was not. under the circum
stances. perfectly defensiblo and un
DER LEGAL advice.
The warfare waged against raCin
melted n volume Of litigation almos
Incredible in character and extent. 20
ing hack many years. Tho life or IN
sport was at stake. We did every
thing IN our power through our pub
lcity agents TO create and maintain
sentiment among the people tina
would prevent destructive Legislation
We employed the best legal talent tha
could be had 20 represent MS I'm tn
courts. and in this way disbursed larg
sums OF money"
Mr.. Belmont ends his letter by Of