The morning news., 1894-01-09
Round TO HAVE THE FIGHT.
The Club People Say the Governor
Can't Stop 1t.

Made That the Governor Has no
Iudicial Power-Manager Bowden
saws the Clubs Attitude is Not a
Defiance.
Jacksonville, Fla, Jan. S.-The Duval
Athletic Club this afternoon threw down
.hs cage of battle to Gov. Mitchell and
the state authorities. 1t announced that
II nroposed to bring about the prize fight
hatween Corbett and Mitchell despite the
onnosition of the governor and despite the
oninion of Attorney General Lamar that
the fight would be violation of the laws
of Florida. AS will be seen from the
statement by the club, words are not in
the least minced. The club people seem
To think that they have the law on their
side, and that Gov Mitchell is acting in
atyrannical and extra-iudicial manner
and they say SO in plain words.
BROUGHT OUT BY LETTER.
The statement of the club. which will
he found below, was called forth by the
following letter from, Attorney General
Lamar of Florida, to the Chicago Inter
ocean, and published in that paper this
morning
once Of the Attorney General Tallahas-
see Fla. Jan. 5, l69f.-Your favor OF the I'd
instant to hand. Therein you request that L
give you some reliable information upon the
1robahity OF the Corbett-Mitchell prize
light taking place in Florida. You intimate
maj YOU desire this for the guidance of
tsports" now looking toward this state. Gov.
Mitchell has declared emphatically that he
would use all the power at his command to
prevent the Corbett Mitchell fight. AS you
know him and the ''Old Hickory qualities of
A. itself T.
that there will be no prize fight unless the
prize fighters can, at the last moment, evade
the authorities.
The Jaw in this state is ample to prevent
the fight and punish the fighters. should they
succeed in having mill The governor is
charged by the constitution with seeing that
the laws are faithfully executed. and in car
rying out such command he can use the civil
and military authority of the state.
II it becomes necessary, he Will use the lat
ter as well as the former. But, at present.
think he deems the civil authorities ample to
cope with prize lighting. You may safely say
to the readers Of the Inter-Ocean that the Cor
bett Mitchell prize fight cannot be pulled
Of In Florida in the year ls94-i0
This letter is trifie extfa-onicial in Ian
guage and Its general scope, but you asked
for information, and it is gwen. Very truly
yours w. B. LAMAR,
Attorney General.
AS will be seen the attorney general is
very positive that the fight will not occur
in Florida, but the attorney generals
positive edict against the fight is met by
as positive a statement from the club
that the contest will occur, and occur in
Florida at that.
THE oLUB's REPLY.
Here is what the club saysS in reply to
the attorney general:
Attorney General Lamar, Speaking for
himself and the governor, having declared IN
letter to the Inter Ocean. Of Chicago, that
the Corbett- Mitchell contest win not take
place In Florida, it is proper that we inform
tne public that neither the attorney general,
nor the governor possesses any judicial
power and to add that the states officers,
acting under the direction OF the executive,
nave refused to allow any judicial determina-
tlon oy the courts Of the law which 1t is
claimed the contest will violate and to that
enc nave caused the prosecution originated
Ior me purpose Of testing the law to be dis
missed. And further that the executive of
tne state possessing the constitutional pre-
fogatye OF asking the opinion of the highest
JUDICIAL tribunal of the state as to the con-
sHucTon T OF the statute, has declined to do
SO. The public is hereby assured that the
contest VIII take place as advertised that no
plahs nave been formed or steps taken and
none VIII be by either the governor or attor-
csS rey general TO stop the contest, and tickets
edn DC bought with the confidence that it
WILL take place under the contract as signed.
HARRY MASON, President,
for the Duyal Athletic Club.
NOT DEFIANAcE OF THE Law.
In regard to the above statement,
Iahager Bowden, of the club SAID to
the southern Associated Press cores
pondent; by those opposing the con-
VeSt tnls statement of the club will prob
any Oe characterized as an open defiance
VI w law and authority, and l confidently
e4Pect TO read several columns of round
IpoasNng given to us by the state papers.
NV No In ~.
law law and authorities. We have
Haue our best efforts to ascertain
!ust What the law is, and have signified
our % Iull intention of abiding by the re-
sun put we have not been allowed to as.
certain what the law is. We were will
ng 70 Test the case in any court, but that
4 p,g psI.uege was not granted us. Now we
pnUpose tu0 10 have the contest, and all who
q soa.s tote 70 see 1t have only to secure their
\ neas peaos, ana they will, without doubt, wit.
4 cbona sclentlf1c boxing match for the
championship of the world"
PLEAsEs THE SPORTS.
.r me issuance by the CLUB of such a def,
auv statement to the public has occa.
4 in, ioueE eS much comment. OF course, sport
MI MI elteles are loud in their praise OF
bEan Ihey call the ''nerve'i of the club in
no,un,g nnuhg oehance to the governor and an
bSllylng WIZ that the fight shall come of
r. ituer gu The state authorities like
II ~ not. The sports talk now as
II .t question was settled and as
n 1ro,,i1 1e governor and attorney genera.
tior iV|u not dare to continue their opposi
q ~ I tboe gne hight after the pronuncia1neltc
cor.aa vne C4uo. The law and order people, o.
nrorOot nSe are highly indignant that the
Il II daS.. dS.ers rs OF the fight should have dared
rart tne governor and the moral septi
bonos VI VI tne state and are expressing the
svtSnat tnat the governor will see that the
spfTao > OF the circular shall be made tx
s nose nos = u tney persist In their avowed pur
''''ol bringing about the fight.
MANY THINK IT A BLuFF.
obsaslre obsnere is a third class of people. shrewd
estod ers' who are not specially inter
The =. one way or the other, who look or
n bing ''aTenent T of the club as a great bio
thai ~ Iney say that the club. realizinc
deter,,rri, ,rie governor has the whip hand, ha:
tanco iGQ yT 70 be saucy at a safe dis
hold Ahese same shrewd observer :
81 ''pun nss & the club, if it expects Il
H has On the contest in Florida
de6anauue serious blunder in issuing the
10 enroe hey say that it will only tend
more Sste the governor and make him
CONT. 'eIInlned than ever TO prevent the
ment jS ihey also say that the state
ton ~ IS calculated to rouse the indigna.
E caraG ..t mat class of people who have MOI
~ enough about the matta,. - $780, -
club bas' put who, now that tht
fly the state autborjties snsu az !, !,
Il 1VUuu IN the ra,,1- n i-9i VIII W