The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-12
Gov. Clarke Says He VIII Cooperate
with Judge Dume to Prevent
the Mill at Hot Springs.
PUGILISTS HAVE NO RIGHTS
WHICH THOSE IN AUTHORITY ARE
BOUND TO RESPECT.
Corbett and Fitzsimmons Notified by
the Governor that the Laws of the
State Cannot BE Violated.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark, Oct. n.-Governor
Clarke, who has been examining the laws
closely touching the guberanatorial power
to prevent prize fighting tonight outlined
his intentions in a communication ad-
dressed to the officers at Hot Springs and
the principals in the proposed fight Upon
the mooted question of the proper mode
Of proceedings, the Governor has counseled
with other lawyers and his pronunciamento
tonight, which is in favor of preventive
measures. is regarded as final. The Gov
ernor will hold himself ready to cooperate
with Judge Duffie, of the Hot Springs dis
trict, to prevent the fight should it ap-
pear that the local authorities fail to i'm
press upon the fighters and their hackers
with sufficient force, the propriety of de-
claring the fight off. In his letter 10
Judge Duffie Governor Clarke says:
Il beg to assure you that you shall have
my prompt and cheerful cooperation in any
effort you may make to suppress the pro-
posed prize fight at Hot Springs. Any order
that you may make il this connection shall
not prove ineffective for want of power to
enforce it. I say this with confidence. be-
cause hold in the highest respect the fidel-
ity and courage of Sheriff Houpt- / feel
sure that his active assistance can be re-
lied on, but it is said that even Jupiter
sometimes mods. II 1t shall, contrary to my
expectations. become necessary TO proceed
without the valuable aid Of the sheriff. !
stand ready to-eupply all that may be neces-
sary.
'I agree with you that preventive pro-
ceedings will, in this case, meet the de-
mands of the law and justice The feature
of this present prize fight which has
aroused and will continue to arouse the in
dignation of our people is its character as
an invasion of the State by a class OF per-
sons ami for a purpose that will not be
tolerated elsewhere. Under the circum-
stances, it is practical assertion OF belief
that our people do not possess the tastes
and sentiments that harmonic with stand
ards which prevail I'm enlightened COM
munities. Regarded as such an invasion,
the proposed event assumes a magnitude
that would not attach to a similar affair
locally organized; it becomes more than an
infraction of statute. and in teh suppress
sion calls for the exercise of more prompt
and summary measures. viii treat your
| letter to me as an application to support
| your efforts to deal with the matter in
this aspect, and not until shall nave ex-
hausted the very comprehensive powers
conferred on the Governor by Section 71S1
of Sandels and Hilrs Digest will / admit
that have made the effort in vain.
I will notify the parties principally inter-
ested in this affair of my determination to
cooperate with the local authorities in
| their efforts to prevent it's occurrence at
Hot Springs and request them to desist
| from further preparations in this direc-
tion.
rxtr
| Clarke expresses a desire to confer with
| him personally, in order to reach an un-
derstanding as to what steps are neces-
sary to carry out his purpose. In addition
to notifying President Dan Stuart, of the
Florida Athletic Club, by mail of his deter
mination to prevent the fight. Governor
Clarke tonight telegraphed to Corbett and
| Fitzsimmons as follows: 81 am advised by
the press dispatches that it is your pur-
| pose at an early day to engage in prize
| fight in this State The purpose of this is
to inform you that such an act is a viola
| ton of our law and an affront to the sem
| timent of State pride entertained by our
i people. 1t WILL therefore, not be possible
| for you to accomplish any such purpose, and
| any attempt on your part to do so
| will subject you to penalties and to treat
ment that 1 am sure will be highly dis
tasteful to you. do not at this time know
in detail all the complications in which you
may be involved by any such attempt but
l am well enough advised of the nature and
| extent of the power and authority with
which you will find yourself confronted to
say that it will prove sufficient to deter you
| from engaging in prize fight in Arkansas.
This is enough for you to know. The ques-
ton, so far as 1t relates to you does not
now call for the citation or construction of
statutes other rules of law. In the
present state OF public opinion, which at
last is the force that infiicts penalties. prize
fighters have no rights which those in au-
thority bound to respect. But there is
no lack of law to make it now my duty to
do all that is here indicated. AS this is
the only communication that shall address
to you, 1 have been somewhat more en-
phatic than would be the If the mat
ter were open to discussion"