The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-30
BELMONT DECLARES
 HE IS PROSECUTED Millionaire Horseman Testifies
 in Graft Case FIGHT ON RAGING BILL Mir. Belmont Says That the Jockey Club Members Voluntarily Con-
 tribufed Their Money to
 Fight Racing Bill
 
FIGHT ON RAGING BILL

New York. November 2s-August Bel man of the Jockey club and West Ches- ter Racing association, took the witness stand today and told the legislative in vestigating committee that he had been persecuted.
 And I want to say" he added with emphasis, that the racing associations and the Jockey club fought the race track bills fairly"
 MT. Belmont is only one of a trio of prominent men identified with racing whom the committee has been able to get on the witness stand to testify con cerning the charge that a s5O0,OOO corrup- ton fund was raised by New York rao- ing interests to combat the Hart-Agnew law prohibiting betting on horse races, which passed the legislature in 1sOS
 Subpoenas, for MT Belmont, James R, Keene and Harry Payne Whitney have been out for weeks. all having been men, tioned as present at a conference at which the alleged fund was subscribed. Service has not yet been obtained on Keene and Whitney and their secretaries both called as witnesses today, testified that Keene and Whitney were in Eu rope.
 The Jockey club, MT. Belmont explained today, is a close corporation of 50 m<m- bers, brought into being some 10 years ago by men interested in the turf
 He was asked by what authority the Jockey club had assessed s57Oo on the Coney Island Jockey club. He replied that the money had not been paid as the result of an assessment but was contrihu- ted informally.
 Voluntary Contribution
 There is no authority" he said. .tbat can be exercised by the Jockey club to influence payment of a fee by A racing association for legal purposes; but the associations, finding that they were to be persecuted. combined and retained at- torneys to fight the legislation. This was purely a voluntary matter and there was absolutely no compulsion whatsoever Tn having the money raised to retain lawyers"
 To what do you refer when you say persecution of racing?" he was asked.
 eH' may say that I was served "lth a subpoena by your committee in | way that I'd call persecution. I had no | hotlhcatlon of the fact that you wanted | ne. An attempt was made to serve mo tne uay before Thanksgiving in a round- | about way by calling at my office and saying that was wanted on a very press Ing business matter. That is a reneotion | and it is persecution in that if made tba community think 1 was trying to evade service. '' eFaoe
 Now, take MT Whitney He is abroad arfahglng the International polo match. Ills stables are abroad and his interests dodger poei'd
 It was absurd" he added "to exnect Mr Whitney to charter a special steam CT 10 come over to testify about some mythical dinner that was printed in the newspapers and some mythical sum that was raised whose very size makes it ridiculous"
 When Keene Left
 Chairman Bruce interrupted to say that 1t was on record that James R. heene left this country after the com mlttee issued a subpoena for him and a1ter he knew the committee wanted him. As to Mir Whitney, he said it was not established when he sailed
 Tell me all you know a bout what funds were raised and how,'' asked Judge Bruce.
 can't tell you how much" said MT Belmont, but the acts of the association are public property and open to inspec- tion, and the funds were raised pro rata among the various racing associations"
 The witness admitted that there were several conferences held by the men in- terested in racing. At one of these,v he said, "a purse was made up to protect the racing associations, but everything was open and well understood"
 Who was the custodian of these funds.''
 Sometimes I was." replied MT. Bel mont.
 Former State Senator William 1T. Key holds followed MT. Belmont on the stand.
 He is president of the Metropolitan Jockey club and he gave a detailed list of the amounts contributed by the Metro politan Jockey club. In all, he said, S32,- 936 had been contributed from August, 1907. to May 1909. all subscribed by the | association in a legitimate manner and | not by individuals.
 Were you ever approached by any member of the legislatures saying that 1t | would be wise for your association to raise a fund.-" he was asked
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