The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-12
Gov. Clarke Says Pugilists Can't
Fight in Arkansas.
The Fighters and Their Man
ayers Are So Notified.
OTHER SPORTINGNEWS
Result of Yesterdays Races at
the Fair Ground.
Local and Kansas State News
About Sport.

LITTLE Rock, Ark, Oct. I2-Gov-
ernor Clark, who has been examining
the law closely touching the guberna-
torial power to prevent prize fighting,
has outlined his intentions in commu-
nications- addressed to officers at Hot
Springs and the principals of the pro-
posed fight The governor will hold
himself ready to cooperate with Judge
Duffie, Of. the Hot Springs district, to
prevent the fight should it appear
that the local authorities fail to i'm
press upon the fighters and their back
ers with sufficient force the propriety
of declaring the fight off. In his letter
to Judge Duffie, Governor Clark says:
Il beg to assure you that you shall
have my prompt and cheerful Coop
GRAFTON in any effort you may make to
suppress the proposed prize fight at
Hot Springs. Any order that you
may make in this connection shall not
prove ineffective for want of power to
enforce it. l say this with confidence,
because hold in the highest respect
the fidelity and courage of Sheriff
Houpt. I feel sure that. his active as
sistance can be relied upon, but it is
said that even Jupiter sometimes mods.
If it shall, ontrary to my expecta-
tons, become necessary to proceed
without the valuab BILE aid of the
sheriff, 1 stand ready to supply all
that may be necessary.
Il agree with you that preventive
proceedings VIII, in this instance,
meet the demands OF the law and JUS
tee. The feature of this threatened
prize fight which has aroused and viii
continue to arouse the Indignation of
our people, is its character as an in
vasiOn of the state by class of per-
sons and for what purpose that will
not be Tolerated. 1t is d practical
assertion of Il belief that our people
do not possess the tastes and senti
ments that harmonic with sta ndards
which prevail in enlightened com
1nunities. Regarded as such an in
vasion, the proposed event assumes
a magnitude that would not at
tach d similar affair locally organ
lied; it becomes more than an
infraction OF Il statute, and in its sup
preston calls for the exercise of more
prompt and summary measures l
Will treat your letter to me as an APP
to deal with the matter
in this respect, and not until 1
have exhausted the very compre-
hensive powers conferred on the gov
ernor by section 7l8l, of Sandels &
Hills digest. will l admit that L have
made the effort in vain.
Il will notify the parties princi-
pally Interested in this affair Of my
determination to cooperate with the
local authorities in their efforts to
prevent its occurrence at Hot Springs,
and request them TO desist from
further preparations in That dircc-
ton"
In addition to notifying President
Stuart of the Florida Athletic club by
mail of his determination to prevent
the fight, Governor Clark telegra phed
to Corbett and FitzsimmOns as follows:
4 am advised by the press dis
patches that it is your purpose at an
early day to engage in Il prize fight in
this state. The purpose of this is to
inform you that such n act is Il viola
tion of our law and an atfront to the
sentiment OF state pride entertained
by our people
1T will, therefore, not be possible
pose, and any attempt upon your part
and to treatment that l am sure will
be highly dist&steful to you In the
present state Of public opinion, which
at least is the force that influences
penalties, prize fighters have no rights
which those in authority are 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 l shall address to
you, have been somewhat more en-
phatic than would be the case if the
matter were open to discussion"