The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-02
Less than TwO-Thirds of the Legisla-
of His Anti-Prixe-Fight Law.
BOTH HOUSES ORGANIZE
AND LISTEN TO A MESSAGE DE.
N0UNCING THE PROPOSED "MILL."
Two Bills Are Immediately Intro
duced, Both with the Emergency
Clause, the Bone of Contention.

city Oct. / to take action the prize
fight question, which has been agitated by
the proposed Corbett-Fftzsimmons mill"
at Dallas, Oct. 81, quorum of both houses
responded to the roll call to-day at noon.
Within thirty minutes both houses were
in working shape, and at 1890 promptly
received a message from Governor Culber-
son. The Governor confined himself solely
to the prize-fight question, and reviewed at
length the situations which has made the
calling of the Legislature necessary. He
said that he regretted he had TO call
the members together. but as the question
was being wrangled over in the courts he
deemed 1t advisable to stop further dis
cIssion by having the legislature enact
law that would be clear and specific on
this subject, and he desires it to go into
immediate effect. His message concluded
as follows. after careful review of the
conditions of the laws in other States:
80 in this instance, if no law exists
the State does not give any assurance or
come under any obligation that its legis-
lation on the subject will remain un-
here invoked. BY proclamation all persona
have been given notice that this exhibition
would not be permitted, and whatever has
responsibility fo- the consequences. The
public interests require that this exhibit
tion especially should be suppressed Dis
ccuntenanced by Mexico and the Terrific
ries, outlawed and driven from every
State, it is proposed to assemble horde
of ruffians and gamblers and offer here
this commanding insult to public decency
Against Ii the instincts and the pride of
the people revolt, and your prompt and
resolute action will spare the ignominy
and shame. 1t will do another thing: 1t
will recall to the great city of the State,
n n hi fu1 hxr ma rIx nd "a n
enlightened people the wholesome and as
suring truth, now obscured by anger and
msconception, for which it will hereafter
thank you, that no part of its material
prosperity. no part of it's social. and in
tellectual and industrial progress, no part
of it's splendid destiny is bound up in an
endeavor to hold within it's limits one of
the most disgraceful orgies that ever
promised to discredit and dshonor Texas.
lmpelled by sense of duty to exert every
executive power to. divert this calamity,
you have been called in special session.
and the responsibility for the consequences
is now divided with you. That you will
meet il as becomes the representatives of
the whole people, anxious and ready TO
protect the fair name OF the State, is not
doubted"
BILLS INTRODUCED. ~
AS soon as the message was read in COM
pliance with it's command, bills were in
troduced in both Houses. The respective
bills In the two Houses are Identical. Tile
one introduced in the Senate by Senator
Lewis of Bexor. and the one in the House
by Representative Warde. of Travis, are
generally conceded to be the measures of
the administration. They define that prize
fighting or any pugilistic encounter shall be
deemed guilty OF felony and shall be pun
ished by an Imprisonment of not less than
one nor more than two years This bill
of course, has the emergency clause. The
other bill, introduced in the Senate by Sem
loss
than five nor more than ten years, and fur
ther provides that any one who in any
manner aids or abets fight will be consid-
above named punishment. The emergency
clause is also in thi1 bill. These bills were
referred to the judiciary committee in
either house, and they were to take action
thereon this afternoon. The Dallas attor-
neys appeared before them, however, to
ask for further time. claiming that they
could show that the proposed law was un-
constitutional and class legislation as well
as confscatory. In compliance with theil
request both committees adjourned unit
| there was done by either House in the mat.
| ter.
| AS the matter stands it is a political row
between cen the friends OF Governor CHioersSf cube OF
has quite number i'm the Legislature
| There are .ninety-four members of the
House Rreseni ana IN swen,yl1o % Get agfy
| six votes to make the law go into imme
| diate effect and twenty-one votes are nee.
! essary in the Senate. In the House. at the
present writing, there are fifteen out-and
| out men against putting any emergency
| clause In the bill, while there are four who
are doubtful. This puts the two-thirds vote
| out of the question in the House with it,
present roster. In the Senate there ars
| three against the emergency clause ant
| two doubtful, which places the bill in Sc
taken now with only the present number
| present. there Is little doubt that th'
emergency clause would be defeated. This
| administration forces do not propose Il
| come to a vote on the matter however
| until more of their mem arrive, and these
| absentees are expected by tomorrow after
noon at the latest. The Dallas people also
want a delay to gather additional forces
so everybody is pleased to delay the game
at present. Tonight lobbying is being in.
fort is m being 'r made aa to % pull the twenty-twt
| Populists In the House over to the figh
| side.
| gard 10 the Governors message: 1T, like
| the call for an extra session. is as weighty
| ard strong the subject would permit o
| -and this is not saying much. The extrav
session is justified on two grounds onl,
| in the message: First. the brutality of &
| glove contest. On this question neither 9
! Governor nor bishop can speak authori
| tatiyely unless he has witnessed glove
| contest. The chief executive may have
| done so. but l never have. Legislative ant
1 eXBcuI1te aDlllty may De aDle 10 QrdW Jn<
! line between brutal and manly sports. bu
| in doing so should amend in this case the
| Marquis of Queensberry rules and require
| eight-ounce gloves. How much Of the an
| imal is to be legislated out OF man? Il
| you take ii all of course he becomes
| thing not dangerous to either sex. but or
| the other hand he Is account to him
| self or to his country What is left is fl
| for only soap and grease. The Orientals
| studied for a thousand years for some
| effective mode OF eliminating the brute
| from man, and finally decided that thu
| only mode Is TO unsex him. Politician.
! who spar with State constitutions, taxes
! money or vested rights will find no great
/ er favor with st. Peter or a fully aroused
| people than professional gamblers who
/ sport with public morals. A wave OF ia
| naticism or the political necessity of get
/ ting the minds of our religious citizen.
| off of the financial question cannot affec
| the responsibility os the legislators who
/ have not consulted with their working con
stituents TO whom one side of this ques
ton has been presented. Morality con
sists in doing wha< our conscience tell.
( us Is right, and not forcing our views OIL
/ another by means of six-shooter or
called session. The proclamation and ses
! sion raises grave questions of morals ane
! constitutional prerogatfves."
Hoke smith Would Stop IL.
WASHINGTON. Oct. l.--secretary Smith
was asked to-day If he would take any
steps to prevent the bett-Fitxsimmonl