Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-02-26
The Race Track Problem.
Issue Before The Legislature AS
Seen By"J. w. D." In Sunpaper.

Issue Before The Legislature AS
Seen By"J. w. D." In Sunpaper.
With suffrage disposed of, appoint
ments to be out of the way by Thursday
of this week, the merit system on its last
lap and much less real interest in the
liquor que stion than seemed possible last
fall, the Legislature soon will be ready
to take up the question which offers about
the only chance of an old-fashioned rough
and tumble fight-that is, racing, There
are three main bills. two toregulate rae
ing, the Frick and Burke bills, and one
to abolish racing, the Nuttle bill.
"But it is just possible that there will
be no real fight over this question. Sup
pose the majority of the members of the
Legislature, putting aside those who
want absolutely no regulation of racing
and those who want to crush all racing
forthwith, should pass to the people for
decision the question whether there should
be rigidly regulated racing or no racing
at all? That, you know, really is the
before the Legislature, for it is impossi-
| BILE that men acquainted with the situa-
ton and interested in the public welfare,
should longer permit an open, unrestrict-
ed field to the racing people in the State.
There are two good arguments for the
Legislature letting the people decide
whether there shall be rigidly regulated
racing or no racing at all. One arises
from the difficulty members of the Legis-
lature may have in deciding how to vote.
1t may well be that member will have
strong feeling one way or the other as to
the tracks, while tn re may be good rea-
son to believe that the majority of his
constituents hold the opposite view. That
is always difficult sort of situation. and
it is extremely difficult when the issue
really turns upon conscience. as Is the
case in the race-track situation, which
would not have been before the Legisla-
ture for several years, but for the con-
scentious DIRECTORS to racing of large
number of people.
1.-The other argument for sending the
question to the people is that it Is the
only means of settlement that offers
permansncy. If the people voted for
regulated racetracks, it would be difficult
to persuade the next Legislature. or any
Legislature of the near future, to inter-
fere with the tracks. If they voted the
tracks out, of course that would be the
end of the business. 1t is extremely
doubtful whether any decision of the
Legislature, short of complete abolition
of the tracks, will have any permanency.
If this Legislature enacts no legislation
as to the tracks, it is a certainty that
there will be another antiracetrack move
ment during the next two years, and an
other antiracetrack fight in the next ses-
sion. If it provides for regulation the
out and out ants still will be on the job.
1.-THE necessity for settling perman-
emily the question whether there shall be
regulat ed racing, or no racing, is not the
concern, as some may think. only of the
racetrack people on the one hand, and the
active ants on the other 1t is the con-
Germ of the whole State. for unless and
until the question is settl ed, the tracks
will get more and more into politics, and
f1uence in politics. There are some very
good men interested in the tracks; there
are many average men; and there are
some men who are distinctly bad. Taken
on the whole, they are the sort of me
who will use practical means to protect
themselves and their interests. When it
is understood that, according to every
report and every reliable sign, the profits
of the tracks are fabulous, and when it
also is understood that control of poll
ticians offers the easiest means of safe
guarding those fabulous profits. babe
in the woods can tell what will happen,
if the issue is not settled as permanently
as may be, one way or the other-if il is
not settled definitely, and beyond all pos
sible question, either that the people of
the State do want the tracks or do not
want them. AS matter of fact, every
one connected with politics knows that
sOIIe VI the IIdCh peoplc nave oCSii az
lively and atfirmatively in politics for
years.
.1he possibilities of the situation can
not be contemplated with equanimity.
After many years of hard fighting the
corporations have been taken out OF pol
tiles in MAJ yIand to large extent; GER
tanly their activity is not remotely so
pernicious as it was ~ years ago. The
liquor interests, as much, are very large
ly out of politics, and With their going
goes another money irfluence in politics
that often was vicious There seems to
be less disposition upon the part of rich
men to burst their money barrels in ex-
change 1tr their own political prefer
men than in long time past and less
disposition upon the part of the masses
Of the people to regard the bursting of
money barrels compiacently. In word
Maryland politics probably is more near
ly free from the brutal domination of
mere money than at any time since the
Civil War. And 1t would be a calamity
if the racing question were allowed to
drag until it developed an evil to take
the place of those roo ed out with SO
much difficulty. -,
1T is suggested that the Legislature
may pass a bill regulating racing rigid