St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-20
According to a Proposition
the Phoenix Club Makes
to the Chamber,
Proposing a Gigantic Carni-
val Of Sport Led by the
Great Battle.
Cooperation Of the Chamber
Asked to Secure the Pass
age Of a Bill.


brought up for reading. The letter is
from the Phoenix Athletic club, and il
proposes to bring a half-million dollars
into the treasure boxes of st. Paul mer-
chants by the obtaining of the COrbett.
Mitchell mill and the giving of carni-
val of sports which will eclipse anything
of the kind ever seen in the city of st.
| Paul, or, in fact, the whole Northwest.
The club asks that the chamber sane
ton the passage OF a bill legalizing box
ing contests in legally incorporated
clubs or the assistance of the chamber
in taking the risk of offering a purse
for the contest The body is not asked
for pecuniary assistance nor for any
risk, but the management of the club
merely requests the sanction of that
| body.
Mr.. Wellington, president of the club,
Will be present to answer any QueS-
lions in relation to the plans of the
club. and to explain the objects of that
institution. 1t is expected that there
will be lengthy argument over the
subject. A number of prominent bust
ness men who are interested in the
club will be present to give their in
fluence to the granting of the request.
The letter is as follows:
To the Chamber of Commerce of the
City of st. Paul, j. II. Beck, Secretary
Dear Sir: We respectfully beg leaveto
call the attention of your honorable
body, through the enclosed clippings,
to the important fact that Minneapolis,
Re cun iS
about to inaugurate a scheme that will
not only advertise the city more widely
than it has been advertised before, but
add to its treasury in more than mod
crate degree. 1t is fact that admits of
no dispute that twO-thirdS of the Amer
lean people are ardent admirers of
sports of all kinds, and popular vote
of the people would disclose the truth
that even boxing contests would be
localized, all law and order leagues and
kindred organizations to the contrary
Notwithstanding, as witness the great
excitement in the great cities of the
Union during the contests for Suprem-
acy between Sullivan and Corbett, FitZ-
simmons and Hall.
In lnaugurating the carnival of sports
Minneapolis is following a line of pro-
greSSive enterprise that is making her
than that of our own city. This scheme
will not only bring to that city the wealth
and fashion of the East, but their dol
lars and powers of observation as well.
Neither the ice palace. nor any other
form of entertainment that mas been
held in this section of the country, had
One-half the power of attraction that
this carnival of sport will have. In
spite of unWarranted criticism and the
structures of those who live in a puri
tonica state at the present day and re-
fuse to recognize modern ideas, the
fact remains that sports and sKillfuf
athletic contests are the most popular
form of entertainment in America to-
day.
The faith of the substantial and lib
eral-minded citizens of Minneapolis in
this enterprise is shown In their prompt
and generous action as explained by IN
| closed extracts from the press. We beg
! leave to say that such a scheme may
| find, easily and quickly, life in the city
| of st. Paul, and be on a more gigantic
| and more profitable scale than the ore
| of our sister city. We wish to make
proposition to your honorable body,
| which will not call for pecuniary as
| sistance but merely for your sanction of
a plan that will bring a half-million
| dollars to the pockets of our citizens and
| make the name of st. Paul better known
in every city, village and hamlet in
the Union also in foreign countries as
well. We do not need to inform you
that the finances of our city are not in
the best possible condition. 1t may be
| necessary to state that in attempting to
force too many and far-reaching relig-
ious principles upon our present admir-
able city government. tWO-thlrdS OF the
foreign visitors are driven to seek enter
tainment in Minneapolis. We need not
tell you that the travelling men pass the
Sunday in Minneapolis and transact
their business in st. Paul week days. The
city is not what it was five years ago
and in the many little essentials which
go TO make up city we have beer
Sadfy lacking and really have been al
most at a standstill. Sports have beef
frOWned upon. and even with our little
entertainments here we struggle hare
to keep alive. although you would b'
surprised TO see the crowds which W.
enjoy, and they are composed of SOm'
OF the most substantial and prominen
business men of the city. The profes
sions are a so well represented.
we desire to propose to your honor
able body that if you will sanction on
Of two things we will guarantee to brin
a half a million dollars to st. Paul
Either draft a bill legaliZing boXin
with gloves to weigh not less than eigh
ounces in the state and request its pas;
age, or, give your sanction to call max
ing the offer of 100000 for the COrbett
, Mitchell contest next December.
With the authority Of the legislature
as mentioned. we will furnish a earn
/ | Il. .f.frN In Inn
, neapolis programme. bring a va:
! amount of money 10 our city, brin
prominent men from all parts of til
country, and give the city an advert
ing such as it has never known. Eve
: now in our puny exhibitions we hay
2 spectators who come from other cite
: as far away as st. Joe and Chfcag
t With your sanction in this matter, "
n will accomplish that which other a
/ yertising schemes have failed to do.
II will rebound equally TO st. Paul
o credit. and it will not dstract one 10
l. from her responsibility. On the co
trary, it will add to its standing, 1t w
q help to relieve its impoverished conc
J. ton, and make it known as the WEBSTER
e ard Northwestern center OF attraction
/ in ali respects.
i, We ask YOUR aid in the form of Il
~ | granting vi OliC VI lltC bOOhC lODuNol
il and you will find that such an acti'
'. will be supported by majority of {
a. solid citizens of St. Paul. Today is t
last day for the introduction of bills
the legislature. VIII we have your {
: operation ia support of one or both
these measures? Do you care to ha
half million of dollars brought to o
- city. say al odd intervals during t
III year? Would this money be of bene
ID to the city? Your a lswer II a. be Civ
. in the action you take.
d. If the sum of Sl0),000 were offered
RS, the Corbett-Mitchell contest it wUI
ss' bring to the city of st. Paul prOmint
e; men from every SectiOn OF the count
Ses and prominent men from England a
ee, other foreign countries. They "
so have an opportunity of Judging fir
,ob ocular demonstration of the beaut
TN and the advantages of ST. Paul aud
lO' importance of our city as buSiB
eli ana manufacturing point. We have
power and the means to 20 far ahead
,ur sister city IN this matter. They m