The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-03
Eyes Of All States Are On
 Illinois BOOkie-Bet Bill

the bars. His attorney general, one Courtney, is opposed to the bill and is known to be influential in the chief executives official family. It was Courtney who led the Car rie Nation-like raids on Chicago and Cicero bookies some time back, denolishing the horse stores with axes and Sledge hammers.
 You still can bet with the bookies around here, but the play is Toth- ing like 1t was in the days when practically every other entrance led to pool room, many of them out fitted in the luxurious manner of private clubs, even including smart dining rooms, bars and faultless service. That phase of Chicago's horse betting is gone forever. It started to go when the federal gov- eminent closed in on old Moe An- nenberg who czared over the racket not only here but all over America. Old Moe paid a stiff fine and went to jail and is still there. Today there isn't much left of the vast empire he built up and ruled over with brutal, ruthless hand.
 So many factors, principally an energetic federal drive, and operat- ing against the pool room bookie, that the racket Is virtually in the death throeS. Its only chance to come back in any for miles in legis- iation. Just how remote or favor- able that chance is nobody can say for sure. If Governor Green should surprisingly break the ice, other money hungry states would follow suit. That has been the history of legali1ed betting at the tracks. One state followed another with iden- tical bills. The selling point has an appeal these days. The state treas- ury is enriched and supposedly this reduces taxes-and to a faint extent it does.
 This isn't the first time a boolkie- betting bill has come before an Illinois governor for his okay. Six years ago a similar bill was pre- sented to the then Governor Horn- CT, and he gave 1t the old heave-ho, adding that it was 8 particularly vicious and unhealthy thing, ua- worthy of the serious consideration of any statesman who professed to have the best interest of the com munity at heart. This may have been a good break for clean gov- ernment but it turned out to be an even better break for the bootleg bookies They were able to get the kind of protection they must always have to operate, and they proceed ed to enjoy 8 string of lush, lucra- tive years.
 Opposition
 Obviously the race track people out here are opposed to the bill, and it may be assumed they have been active--active in the way it counts fnost-in their opposition. It isn't difficult to understand this opposition. Only small percentage of race goers patronize the tracks to see the horses run; their main interest A in making bet. If they can walk into a convenient store and make Q bet, certain of track odds and prompt pay offs. It seems reasonable to assume they aren't going to bother about going to the tracks. That a situation of this sort would cut deep into the tracks financial resources, and, in the end, compel drastic curtailment in Tac- ing programs and purse distribu- tioris can scarcely be questioned.
 Just the same we fear the legal ized bookie is on his way, and the only thing that can stop him is an organized, intelligent propaganda drive, stressing the better things of racing, the breeding, the enormous investments and the not unimpor- tant outlet for employment. Even this may not be successful but 1t would be a deterrent. rn any event, the forces for the legaliSed bookie are beginning to form. They are sienificart straws in the wind. And, to repeat, with the first break in the ranks--the first legalized ac- tion-there will be a stampede to get on the tax-reducing band vtAaoxl.