The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-08
By JOE WILLIAMS

New York, Jan. 8-Sports, like all other non essential industries, will continue to wobble and stagger until the war ends. The vitality of their position will rise or fall in ratio to good and bad news from the front. If the news gets better, sports will move on f1rmer ground; if 1t gets worse, they will cease to move at all.
 It seems to Us this is only the ser1- sible conclusion that can be formed at this time. All out war means just that. It Is conceivable the situation at the front might become so desper- ate as to make 1t advisable to abari- don all forms of entertainment, ir- respective of their admitted recrea- tional and morale values.
 It is to be hoped, naturally, that such an action will never become ne- cessary, but its possibility is not to be ignored. The fact that restraints on the civilian front become more and more severe is indication enough that the United Nations are not swinging against soft ball pitching.
 The newest order from the office of OPA eliminating pleasure driving on the eastern seaboard puts the f1n- ger squarely on racing and propor- tionately affects other sports. The immediate effect, as you know, was to close racing in Florida.
 This was not only a body blow to the sport as such, but wrench to the economic system of the state. No other racing state depends so largely on track revenue for support of cer- tain civilian activities, namely, maintenance of the old age pension and school teacher payroll.
 Lost Out
 Our scouts reports when the OPA order was issued, the Florida legis- lative bloc immediately moved into action in an effort to bring pressure on Washington. This same bloc made similar fight to keep the ball clubs in Florida two weeks ago, but met with defeat, largely, we are told, because no one representing baseball officially appeared in Washington with a comprehensive rebuttal, or with anything. for that matter.
 The legislative bloc isn't likely to win this one, either, because 1t is not easy to make an impressive case for racing on the grounds of national morale, racing being mainly @ gamb- ling come -on, no matter how highly 1t is esteemed in the better sporting circles, and no matter how much 1t contribute sto staae funds. In the final analysis, of course, this is not a contribution: It is 8 fee for licens- ed gambling.
 Any householder faced with the problem of keeping his heat down to an absolute minimum even in zero weather, can have nothing but applause for the OPA order which denies the use of A, B, and c cards for travel to tracks. That these cards, particularly the C's, have been fagrantly abused by track reg ulars in the past is common knowl- edge: how these parties got the c cards in the beginingfi is not common knowledge, but would un- doubtedly make very interesting readings.
 As 1t turns out, the OPA has implemented a suggestion we made last fall. which was for the tracks to refuse admission to such autoistS. Unless the situation is relaxed by the time racing starts again around here, 1t will take 8 mighty game or brazen person to use whatever gas he has at his disposal to tool out to the outdoor gambling casinos. Just by way. of making 1t com pietely oficial, the tracks should issue a formal ban, this as a pro- tective measure and a good will gesture.
 will racing start around here again? We think so, but under a modified, telescoped arrangement. There are four tracks in the met ropolitan district. Two should suf- flee for the duration-the two with the more accessible transportation facilities. That would be Jamaica and Aqueduct. It Is not easy to get to Belmont without a car; it is more difficult still to get to Empire City.
 AS for baseball, 1t will at least oneu. How far t will ao uananaa