Weekly journal-miner., 1917-04-18
WOOD CANNED AS
 FAIR COMMISSIONER
Despite Warning by Governor Campbell Yavapai Man Enters Into What Ex-
 ecutive Calls Unconsc1onable Contract

PHOENIX, April l6.-Homer R Wood, of Prescott, captain of tht Hunt crew in the gubernatorial con test, has been fired as State fair com missioner by Governor Thomas E Campbell, following the exposure o an attempt by Wood and Chairman I (. NJ. Layton of the fair commission to tic the State fair up with a con, tract for pari-mutuel racing with C. D Boycc, another striker for the former governor
 The indication that he was no long CT member of the commission came 70 Mir. Wood in the curtest form, a note from the governor to the follow ing effect, to-wit:
 Homer H. Wood,
 Ford Hotel,
 Phoenix, Ariz.
 This is to inform you that your
 office as State fair commissioner
 is vacated, effective Monday
 morning, April 16, 1917.
 THOMAS E. CAMPBELL,
 Governor.
 What connection there is between the attempt of two Hunt appointees to override the stated position of Campbell with reference to the use Of the State fair grounds for pari-mutuei racing meets, and the gubernatorial contest. is not known, but it is inti- mated that there is connection a. plenty. On April 4, Governor Camp bell notified the fair commission that he desired it to make no contracts for concessions or changes, without con- sulting him, and to confne its work 10 purely routine lines. This warning followed the receipt of private infor- nation by the governor that there was a Then on" in the commission, or that two-thirds of it left when Charlie Roberts resigned to take up his duties as State senator from Cochise. On April / the contract for the pari- mutuels was signed.
 Quite a Tangle.
 rarfpO hrSt considered for Arizona, Judge Nc Call of Cochise county, well-to-do breeder of fine livestock, spent good deal of time and money finding out just how applicable authorized meets would be to Arizona He learned that with pari-mutuel racing here for few weeks of the year, he could ln- duce hundreds of the wealthiest and best spenders to come to Phoenix' Tucson. and other cities willing to stage a series of meets. Moreover, 1t was intimated that no less a chap than Aug. Belmont would invest one million in a modern colt ranch in Salt River valley, if he could be as sured of a place to train his stock.
 All this was good. and Mccall turned in and spent lot of money propaganding around. He operated pari-mutuel machine on the State fair grounds just long enough to get him self arrested, so as to have case with which to test the law. The Supreme court decided. but the nature of its decision left the unlegal minded horse men more deeply ignorant of the legal status of the pari-mutuel form of race betting than ever. It was always hg- ured among the prominent lovers and packers of horse racing, that It the pari-mutuels came, Judge Mccall for his unrcmitting efforts would be made one of the State racing commissioners and that the meets would be put on properly, under direction of this com- mission.
 Recently, however, most of the original packers of the pari-mutuels have desisted, not being quite sure of their legal ground, and more than willing in this time of national stress to devote their time and energy to other, more useful pursuits. No so, however, C. D. Boyce, owner of a pool hall here and one of Hunts tally men al the contest.
 Boyce made a trip to Tiajuana and learned a lot about pari-mutuel rac- ing. He interested James w. Golf roth. a thoroughly Southern Cali fornia style of race promoter in the Phoenix meet. Then he. Boyce, se- cured from Wood and Layton the contract for five years-much longer than the term of either commissioner