The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-09
The Governor Seems to Have
Sporting Blood in Him.
WON'T CALL THE LEGISLATURE.
VIII Enforce the Law. but Considers
the Law to Be Inadequate.
The Mayor and Attorney of Hot Springs
at Dallas Making Arrangements for
Corbett and Fitzsimmons-The Cow
ernor OF Texas Pursuing Dan STU
art. His Personal Enemy.

Little Rock, Ark. oct s-"You can saw
FOR me that would not convene the legis-
lature in special session 10 stop il Il
they were to fight in the statehouse yard"
Gov. Clark used this language in conversa-
ton with an Associated Press representa-
tive today in reference to his probable ac-
tion in the event that the Corbett-F'itz-
simmons contest should be advertised to
take place in Hot Snr.ngs His manner
was so deliberate and emphatic that there
could he no possible doubt of the earnest
ness OF the governor Gov. Clark was IN
a most amiable frame of mind. and talked
freely concerning tho latter phase of the
situation. Il do not really know any
thing about it," he said. hut ] have
heard great many rumors about schemes
10 mold the contest In Arkansas. 1t looks
though as If they mean to bring il off at
Hot Springs. sure enough. The fact that
Mayor Waters and City Attorney Mar
tin of Hot Springs. are in Dallas nego-
tiating with the managers of the affair in
dicates that Hot Springs wants Il. and they
viii very likely get H.
Will you interfere should they at
tempt To bring il off there2''
My position in that regard is well
known. You may say that I VIII do every
thing in my power to prevent the fight:
that | will so as far as the Law as 1t now
stands gives me authority 10 go. and no
farther. Mr.. Martin is city attorney at
Hot Springs and Is a lawyer of much abil>
ity He knows as we'll as myself or any
one else how far my authority goes. and
he seems to have decided that /. as an of
ficer who has taken the oath 10 enforce the
law as find ii. will so to the end Of my au-
thority. and stop at it. and that is Just what
l VIII do. l am not disposed just now.
however. to say what my action will be
should they attempt TO bring the contest
off in Arkansas, but you can cay for me
that | would not convene the legislature
in special session TO stop ii II they were to
fight in the statehouse yard. T
shall see the law enforced, but
Will not put the people TO the
expense of a special session of the leg
islature TO prevent a misdemea nor and
then perhaps have the legislature refuse
TO indorse the action Personally 7 am
opposed to pugilism. In 1891 the legislature
passed an act making przefighting a fell
ony. / was in the legislature at that time
and voted for the bill. But the people were
not satisfied with that law, for the very
next session they repealed il. and enacted
in its stead a law reducing the offense 10
a mjsdemeanor. That is the law now
and it Will he enforced. With the legisia-
ture TO be called have little reason TO be-
lieve that the state law would be changed
Nine out of ten senators now in commits
sion are members who voted for the law
as II stands now on the statute books.
Gov. Clark stated that he had no doubt
that the local peace officers would do their
whole duty in the matter should viola
ton of the law be threatened at Hot
Springs or elsewhere in Arkansas.