The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-07-17
OBSERVATIONS OF
AN ADOPTED 'ICONCH"
An Apnraisal q he

two excellent men of good moral
fibre, ability and courage, let US
here in Key West, while waiting
- the second big convention to
open and make its nominations
(and we sincerely trust that men
of equal ability, courage and mo-
raj fibre viii be selected 50 the
country WIN be safe In the hands
Of either party take inventory
and stock Of an all important pro-
blem which directly and indirectly
effects every citizen Of our Island
City and the Lower Keys namely,
the proposed Stock Island Dog
Racing Track. Unlike the big Chi
cago conventions in which we d.
rectly do not play part, we,
ever as Monroe County voting CT
tizens. viii pay ) most important
and direct part in the race track
referendum scheduled to take
place in August BY the casting Of
our ballots for, or against, the Dog
Racing Track.
Much publicity In this matter
has been given by the Key West
Citizen Ia faithfully reporting and
publishing without bias or preju-
dice the conflicting view points of
the several civic and other groups
who have come out openly for or
against the establishment Of the
race track. We pretty much know
now that the Ministerial Associa-
ton and the churches they repre-
sent, as well as the Jaycees, the
Key West Garden Club, the Key
West WOmen's Club oppose It,
while the Hotel and Restaurant
Owners Association favor II. But
20 far neither the Chamber Of
Commerce, nor the Retail Mer-
chants Association Of Key West
have made any public statement
N to their stands In this matter.
And we wonder why?
OF Ill the business men in Key
West the average Duval Street and
adjacent lateral street merchants,
who to . large extent support the
Chamber Of Commerce and make
up the membership Of the Retail
Merchants Association win be the
first to suffer financially If the
racing track referendum wins. This
is particularly true Of the many
merchants In Key West who extend
credit 70 customers. And there Is
: Surprisingly large credit business
In this city, not only among NE
jewelers., but Ia other lines as well
electrical appliances, radios.
household goods. furniture. build
Ing matrials. etc. as well as the
doctor and the dentist. In addition
to the credit business, al mer.
chants enjoy ! thriving weekly
Navy pay night business, and 4
healthy week day cash business as
we'll, accriing from the civilian
and the Navy residents Of Key
West-not from outside suorces.
The credit business. involving
weekly, semi.monthly and monthly
payments 70 merchants, and the
daily and weekly cash business Is
bound % snffcr By the establish
ment n : near BY Dog Racing
Track. Our merchants, little and
BIZ. win b hi. and hit hard. IL
the experiences Of other like sized
communities can b taken rs 4
exiteria. AND THEY CAN BE.
Careful appraisal win reveal the
fact that the retail merchants ID
small communities having race
tracks Invariably suffer during .
racing season. Much If THE
WEEKLY TAKE-H0ME PAY.
pormally going 10 the family bud.
net for shoes, clothing. necessities
Tor he home, etc. and for the pay.
ments On credit purchases already
made and money owing the doc.
tors and detists lands IN the poc.
ets III the race track promoters
and owners. Consequently weekly
and monthly payments due mer.
chants. and doctors hills arc not
paid or curtailcd, and proportion.
ately cash purchases are lowered
II volume. The percentage ii
winnings a any race track are -
normally low IN comparison 70 The
lar greater losses which provides
ne easy unesrned TAKE.HOME
money al the track promoters
True. The stale II Florida, thruush
he legal pAri.mutnAl system de-
TiSes ! certain henefIt from The
TAKE AZ IN race tracks. and pro
rates this sc-called TAKE 10 the
various counties h Florida. thus
b / measure reducing taxation.
But nevertheless The indisidnai
merchant. a. vel ~ the wives
and ~ children ~ ! betting race
track husband or father ncses IN
that he race track gets tle mooney
and not m merchant Or The lnM
vidnai family. ne merchants II
small communities Iihx Key West
Invariably sszffer. DUE . rextri
Invariably ukfler. de b restricted
pcpulasfpn whereax larger eilies
hkN Miami ~ nhIe - ahsorh Ne
Diversion = purchasing rowsr.
.----~~
m realised III - Hots and