Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1915 — TO LEGALIZE RACE TRACK GAMBLING [ARTICLE]

TO LEGALIZE RACE TRACK GAMBLING

Promoters of Porter Trask Said to Bs Behind Scheme to Have favorable Law Passed.

A bill has been introduced in the legislature by the promoters of the Porter race track which was closed •by state troops two years ago, and if passed it will legalize gambling in Indiana. The bill will meet with opposition from all fair minded citizehs of the state, who will make an effort to defeat the measure in its infancy. It is being backed by a syndicate dl Chicago and Indiana promoters, some of them being the same clique that operated in Lake county in the palmy days when Roby and Sheffield were national figures in the sporting world. The bill also makes it lawful to bet on the races at all county fairs, and just as soon as tills comes to pass it will spell disaster to every county fair and be their ultimate ruination, as the day is passed when legalized and open betting on horse racing will be tolerated by the general public, and it is quite surprising that the state organization of County Pair 'Managers would allow themselves to be used as a tool in furthering the wishes of the gambling syndicate* of Chicago, who have been driven from their own state long since. Lake county was once the dumping ground for all the gambling interests and prize fighters in Chicago, and the present hill wfill bring back the very same result if allowed to become a law. A circular letter has been mailed broadcast under the signature of John Isenbarger, president of the County Pair Managers’ association, making an appeal to all county fairs to help the bill, along and one paragraph says: “It is of vital importance to our common interests that this hill become a law. Race days at our fairs have always been feature days—the days when the gate produced revenues. With p'airi mutual betting machines in operation we will he able to offer better purses, attract hotter horses, create greater interest and derive substantial profits from which to enhance the value of our premium lists and bring hack old time prosperity to our fairs, many of which you know have thrown up the sponge for lack of patronage.” The bill is ‘backed only by sinister motives whd<ch are concealed behind the County Fair Managers’ association.