The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-21
General Sherwood Says he
strictive Legislation Has
Ruined Racing.


Ruined Racing.
az most glowing appreciation of the
American horse by General Isaac R.
Sherwood. menlberof Congress from
Ohio, is contained in the CongTession-
nj Record of recent date
Congressman Sherwood is one OF
The best Judges of good horses in this
country, and some years ago, at the
age of more than seventy years, made
a worlds record driving pair OF his
own horses on an Ohio track,
The remarks by Representative
Sherwood anent1 the. horses were
apropos OF an item In the agricul-
tural appropriation bill carrying a
liberal sum of money Tor horse breed
ing and experiment in live stock pro
duction, an appropria alton which was
made II defiance sofSa declaration by
the American Saddle Horse Breeders
Association in April, 1914, to the eff
feet that such expETime ntation lis an
unEarranted and unjustifab1e inter-
ference in. the private enterprises
General Sherwood deprecate5 tho |
51eEisla ton by va rious states that has
resulted in restricted horse racing
and asserts that such legislation is I
ding to ruin scientific horse BREED
ing in the United States. All his life
he has devoted considerable attcntlonl
TO horse breeding and racing. and atI
one time edited a publication devoted
to the subject. The general himself
does not bet on the races, but does
not regard betting as sufficiently an
evil to Justify much of the adverse
legislation that has been enacted a /
recent Record quotes him as follows:
How Is 1T possible 10 promote |
scientific horse breeding by the Unit
ed States government in the pres
ence Of so much hostile legislation by
the states to wipe out horse racing or
horse culture? Speed horses of high
quality commanded very remuncra-E
tive prices when breeders we're all
loved to race their products in the
grand circuit
There were plenty or ready home
buyers at the end of the grand circuitsI
for tried and educated horses of speed
manners and quality, and buyers from
Russia, Austria. London, Paris and
nearly all the leading capitals of Eu-
rope.
Millions OF Foreign Money.
Millions OF good gold dollars were
brought itno the United States by
foreign buyers, prices ranging for
stations of fashionable breeding and
extreme speed from $4,000 to sI5,-
coo. All the stock farms were pros
porous. and. there was neither q de-
smand nor an excuse for government |
patronage or government aid until |
the hypocriticaI blatherers, masquer-
aiding as reforners, started on their !
destructive work.
am not here to crfticise the eff
forts Of the government to promote |
scientific horse breeding, but to call
attention TO-. the notoriously unfortu-I
nate fact that arly all the states
north OF the Ohio river have enacted |
hostile legislation to discredit and
scientific horse breed |
inE. This has been done largely by
legislation against pool selling on race
tracks.
This legislation has practically
ruined the. splendid series OF harness
racing known as the Grand Circuit. |
which, a decade ago, furnished to mil- |
lions. of horse loving enthusiasts the |
most wholesome and recreative and
3alluring of all the outdoor sports and
#pastimcs OF the American people. |
This legislation has also ruined the
county fairs. which for half a century,
have afforded SO much wholesome en-l
ioyment to the boys and girls OF the I
farms. M
And what has been the result OF
this legislation upon the speculative
element Of modern society," Has it I
stopped gambling? No: it has in (
creased il. Has it elevated the moral
tone OF society? No; it has degraded
It All people Christian. pagan and
fAIohamme their recreations !
and pastimes. If$ther are not low
cd the best they are liable to so to
the worst. In the United States we
have practically killed high class |
horse racing and inaugurated prize
fighting. baseball and football
And We are now gambling three I
times as much on these games as We |
ever did in the very hesday "; OF horse
racing. And a game that is outlaMed |
in every civilized country around sthe1
4World-prize ftghtinE-is now sthe
most popular pastinle OF the sporting
element OF the American people The |
brutal bouts aof the nose snlashersl
and RIB crackers OF the prize ring are
thesSleadi ling. features OF all our lead
ing daily newspapers. They are even
betting disEracefully on the polo
game. And the select ladvlike areI
gambling on it far more than was Il.
ever known on race horses. "a
Made Big Hit.
ere is a reliable telegram. show
ing the big ilitSmade by Mrs Hit:
Los Angeles. Cal. Mar PERRY
Beadleston Won the, laurels in today's