St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-21
when WILL IT END?
Does the Police Commission
Extort Money From Pugi-
listic Managers?
Cash Must Come Down or No
Fight Goes at Washing
ton Rink.
A System Of Blackmail That
Has Been Regularly Car
pied On.
The Commission Cannot Clear
Its Official Skirts Any
Too Soon.

'It's rank blackmail! III never pay
it,,
The speaker was Dominick McCaff-
rcy. the well-known pugilist. His eyes
flashed and his attitude was deter
mined.
eff any one wants to pay this $500 to
see the fight go on, all right, but will
never do it,
The $500 that Mccartney refused to
put up was sum of money demanded
by the police commission, as he sup
posed, for protection. Really it was
bold piece of blackmaii that the police
commission should use its detective
force to locate and punish. 1t will be
no surprise to the Talent and Fancy,
but will the good people of Minneapolis
who have been upholding the police
commission believe the statement that
before any glove fight can occur
at the Washington rink, there
must be good round sum "put up to
square the police commission" Who
gets the money is another matter. 1t
may never reach the police commission,
but in the name of the police commits
sion it is eXtorted, and unless paid the
fight cannot go on. The amount varies,
but is in the neIghborhood Of $3.50. In
the present case it is $500, and McCatf-
rey. after consulting an attorney, de-
clares he will let the fight drop before
he will be bled in any such way.
Glove fights are not unlawful.
There is no license tax imposed.
The money demanded in the name of
the police commission is simply an eX-
tortion. for it is accompanied by the
threat that unless forthcoming the fight
will be stopped. A plea of disorderly
conduct could be easily set up and the
fight stopped, and, knowing this,
managers prefer to be robbed
rather than miss the profits of
the fight. The managers of every fight
at Washington rink have paid their
money, but no one knows where it goes.
No doubt il passes through many hands
before it reaches its destination. but it is
demanded in the name of the police
commission. Managers are very un-
willing to speak of it. III. Breslauer
grew pale at the very mention of the
thing. but he could, if he would, throw
some light on the matter. He has paid
over these sums many times, but Mike
is discreet fellow and never discloses
business affairs.
Where does this money go? There is
no hesitation in sporting cir
cles in saying that it "goes to
the police commission but that
is entirely too vague. The police
commiss on, as body, would scarcely
dare [ 0 50 boldly levy what is nothing
more or less than biackmail; yet that is
the charge openly made. Isn't it about
time this police commission was elng
overhauled? 'Dom;nick Mccartney and
Pat Killen can't fight i'll Minneapolis
because nobody will put up the $500 de
manded by the police commission is
going about the street, and it will be
believed by many people. Sometimes
one member and sometimes another
will be named as receiving the money,
but generally it is Jumped as the police
commission. This high and mighty
body should get up and exert itself. Its
immaculate name is being trundled
about in the mud. The public is sland
ering it. 1t should investigate. expo Sc
and punish. 1t is time this stain was
removed from the name of Minneapolis.