Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-27
NC Cram Gives Ruling
I'm Horse Racing Plan
De Voc and Other Democrats
Know Nothing of Proposed
Racing Venture

TRENTON, Dec. 27:-Democratic
legislators assembling here today for
their conference on policies for the
1924 lawmaking session declared no
knowledge of any attempt to revive
horse racing in New Jersey.
They ridiculed the idea of any
success for such a plan and express
ed extreme doubt as to any chance
for legislation of this kind being
passed at the coming session.
81 don't know a thing about it,
was the answer of Democratic House
Leader Fred w. DeVoe, of Middle
sex, when approached.
ITS all new to me but / would
prefer not to comment further until
after we have had our conference.
Assemblyman Alexander Crawford,
dean of the Hudson county delega-
ton expressed himself as opposed to
any such a program. Il would be
absolutely against it" said Crawford.
Morris E. Barison, another of the
Hudson delegation, when interview
ed took a similar attitude. He eX-
pressed the opinion that nothing
would be done and indicated the be-
lief that there was not the slightest
CndnRe VI Tie lNlNhdl btlil5
adopted.
The Democrats received the news
of possible horse racing legislation
with apprehension. They well re-
member the political oblivion their
party suffered in the state after the
last episode of this kind and they
have no desire to go into the politi-
cal wilderness for another fifteen
years as was the party's fate then
after 1893.
1t is not believed that Governor
Silzer will give his sanction to the
proposal of Tex Rickard, well known
fight and general sports promoter.
for the establishment of thorough
bred horse racing in New Jersey.
The Rickard plan, 1t developed to-
day, has been in the hands of the
chief executive for two months but
he did not make known its receipt.
1t proposed two tracks, one in Jersey
City, within easy distance of New
York, and the other at Atlantic City
for patronage from Philadelphia and
South Jersey. The Rickard plan pro-
posed that over and above the oper-
ating expenses and a fair return on
the investment all the proceeds shall
go to New Jersey charitable pur-
poses. 1t is said that bills embody-
ing this idea are now being drafted
for presentation to the incoming
legislature. The Republican party,
therefore being in control of that
body, will have the final say as to
their passage or defeat if introduced.
Governor Silzer was not here to-
day, being in Hartford, Conn, where
he is speaking on coal and incident
ally giving his presidential aspira-
tions a boost so that comment from
him was not available.
TRENTON, Dec. 27.-Betting on
horse racing can be legalized in New
Jersey only by amending the state
constitution. The amendment must
be approved by two consecutive leg
islatures and then submitted to the
voters at a referendum election.
If Tex Rickard and the money
syndicate that is said TO be backing
him in a campaign to establish two
tracks in New Jersey with Pari-
Mutuel betting, attemp- to carry out
the plan, they will find that the
above is the only method open to
them, according to Attorney General
McCran.
Governor Silzer is still in New
England, where he went yesterday.
and no one at his offices here would
discuss the report that Mr.. RickarG
laid the plan before him two months
| ago.
The legislature of 1893 !egalized
! race track gambling, but there was
such storm of protest that the 1894
Legislature repealed the act and three
years later the constitution was
amended to prohibit any kind OF
betting. Thi9 amendment is still in
fOres.