Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 254, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1912 — TROOPS END RACING AT PORTER TRACK [ARTICLE]

TROOPS END RACING AT PORTER TRACK

Company M Arrives In n Downpour of IBain After South Bend Company Has Closed the Track. The state Militia closed the Mineral Springs race track at Porter yesterday afternoon just as the track officials were attempting to pull off a race. Co. M, of Rensselaer, arrived too , late to assist in closing the track. No direct word has been received from the boys, but they eivdently had a strenuous time before reaching the track. They reached Hammond about 10 o’clock in a driving rain and taking possession of the Monon freight depot, unpacked their baggage and donned rubber ponchos, In preparation for the “hike” through the rain. It had been the intention to go to the race track from there by interurban, but judging by the time of their arrival at the track they must have had a long march through the driving rain. Last night the boys encamped under the grand stand and in a building at the track and were thus protected from the increment weather. Supplies were delivered to them in sufficient Quantities fi>om Chesterton in the afternoon to last until Saturday and it is thought that their stay will be that long, at least. >' The “capture” of the racing plapt by the guardsmen was accomplished without much display of force. When Company F njarched down the asphalt drive to the turnstiles they were met by ticket takers and Ben* Hyman. All was in readiness for the day’s programme, although the soldiers’ coming was not unexpected. “Wie’re here to take possession,” Major Freyermuth told Hyman. Captain Guy E. Kimball stationed a guard with bayonets crossed at the gateway, with orders to admit only horsemen and newspapermen^-At the paddock and at every other entrance details were also stationed. Shortly after 1 o’clock the first racing special over the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad pulled in. Off of it stepped 400 racing devotees. They got about half way up the drive and there met the bayonets. “Orders are to allow no one to pass,” the sergeant in charge of the detail told them. “Better take the next train back.” The crest-fallen crowd turned heel; the special was switched around on a sidetrack and back they went to Chicago. Those on the next special train met a like fate. Inside the stockade, where for a week the gamblers have held forth, preparations were on to rim the programme. Determined, that it should not be stage* was Major Freyermuth. At 3 o’clock A. F. Knotts posted the following announcement on the blackboard:

“Just as aoon as executive anarchy la suppressed legal racing will proceed.” Simultaneously a bugler stepped out into the slushy tjpck and in the drizzling rain sounded ‘boots and saddles.’ Out of the paddock came four jockeys piloting their mounts. It was to have been a seven-furlong event. In the lead was Jockey Musgrave, the track favorite, astride of Yorkville. Next came Warren, on Ella Grane and trailing came Duchess Daffy and Senator James. They edged up to the line of soldiers who with bayonets pointed at the breasts of the “jumpers” held a solid line across the “post.” “Get ready to go," shouted Starter Dick Dwyer, curling a blacksnake at the “Jumper's” heels. “Don’t go,” warned Major Freyermuth, holding up a warning hand and standing by the starter’s side. The “jocks” seemed bewildered a moment. Then they bowed to the uniformed law and turned their mounts back into the paddock. They discarded their noisily colored riding habits and roundly cursed the guardsmen. “We just wanted to make an attempt to start the races so we could say in court we were prohibited from doing so by show of arms,” Hyman explained. The attempt to race had hardly ended when rain fell in a torrent Through the heavy cloud a bedraggled individual was seen hiking down an adjoining country road for shelter. It turned out to be Brigadier General Garrard, While the general was being dried out Company M, under command of Captain Healey, came dragging through the downpour under heavy marching order. Both companies posted a picket line and camp was established in the clubhouse. Wagon loads of provisions and blankets arrived shortly and, aside from being wet, the troops were little the worse for the wear. Little trouble was experienced. A stable hand created some commotion when he tore down the American flag which flew at the front of the Judge’s stand with the declaration that “There ain't no liberty in this country.” A horse owner revenged the Insult to Old Glory by buying the stable boy a drink, and no one attempted to ran the flag up on the halyards again. - The horsemen predicted that if the track isn't opened by the end of the week practically every owner will have departed with bis string. Without horses the promotors would be unable to cariy out their threat to reopen the moment the guard is relaxed. Sheriff Wood, of Porter county, in which the back is located, was a visitor at the track. “It’s an uncalled for proceeding and a. reflection on me,” Sheriff Wood said

without cracking a smile. “But I can’t buck an army. All parties will undoubtedly be in court in a short time. The racing association has redress. If the troops come they should be under my command and I think the governor’s secretary has overlooked a few legal points on that score.” The sheriff asked Major FrGyermuth if martial law had been proclaimed and was assured that such was not the fact The sheriff loafed around a bit and then, seemingly realizing the hopelessness of Governor Marshall’s “illegal act,” departed. 'After posting his “executive anarchy edict,” A. F. Knotts gave out an interview charging the governor with having become religious because of his vice presidential aspirations but with having winked at gambling previously. He declared the' fight would be to the last-ditch. He also started an expose of gambling in other sections of the state. “If Governor Marshall is so religiously opposßed to gambling, then he should quit the vice presidential race, because he knowingly is a ‘political horse’ upon whom thousands of dollars are being wagered,” said Knotts, “Odds on his chances are posted every day and he has made no protest “Governor Marshall is much exercised over alleged gambling at Mineral Springs. He knows, and everybody else knows, that for years op6n gambling has been in progress at French Lick. The patrons bet on tin‘horses, or whirligigs and other gambling -paraphernalia. In Indianapolis and South Bend there are open poolrooms. Twothirds of the patrons at French Lick are Chicagpans. From his attitude I would infer that men who come twenty miles to Mineral Springs are Chicago thugs and those who go 150 miles to French Lick are Chicago gentlemen.” Mr. Knotts then unburdened himself as to who controls Mineral Springs. “No Chicago gambler ever did have or will have any interest in these grounds,” he said. ‘The only Chicagoan connected with it is Ben Hyman, and he is only ah employe. All of the others are Indiana business men. We intend to erect here a big hotel, golf liqks, baseball grounds and all other things needed for a sort of a country club for the general public. Racing is only incidental to our plans. f "We don’t want gambling here. If there has been any violation in that respect it has been by individuals and not by the association. We haven’t accepted a dollar from gamblers, and if any betting has been done it was of a minor character. No -one has been arrested and convicted of gambling on this track and no one has made affidavit to the fact” 'They brought injunction proceedings against ns and then dismissed them.” Knotts continued. “Since then the htate has mads no move to exercise civil law. We intend to find out whether martial law takes precedence over civil law. We propose to get our rights and will reopen the moment we legally see our way clear.” Under the Sellers law Mr. Knotts said his association was entitled to fifteen days of racing. He said the meeting was legal and sanctioned by the Indiana statute. Then he opened up a vitriolic attack on the governor. Ts any one has violated the law it’s Marshall,” he declared. "He’s a pinheid—the wont pin-headed governor we ever bad.”