Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-10-17
LAWS FULL OF FLAWS.
Besides, Lack of Funds Caused Most
of the Arkansas Militia
to DiSband.

Little Rock. AK. Oct. 12.--Gov.
Clarke's letters to Judge Duffie, promis-
ing him support, to Sheriff Houpt, warn
ing him to do his full duty. and to Dan
Stuart, suggesting that he keep out of
danger. together with his kilograms to
linn Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons, are
he topic of discussion today. Ever since
lie Florida Athletic club changed it's
pase Of operations from Dallas to Hot
Springs the public has been on tiptoe for
some utteranceS on the subject, but as
the days passed and no words came,
great many people came to the conclusion
that the fight would be allowed to pro-
coed without interference. as it was gen.
orally understood that the local peace
officers at Hot Springs were favorable
to the enterprise. AS Gov. Clarke had
more than once expressed his confidence
i'll their ability to preserve the majesty
Of the law. it being inferred that the
pugilists would DC arrested and fined after
ment here and at Hot Springs is over.
whelmingly in favor of the contest. and
even after the disturbing clement and
some of Gov. Clarke's political enemies
began to claDlor against it, the people
really believed that the contest would be
permitted to take place.
These letters published this morning
and the public is eagerly waiting to see
what effect they will have on matters at
Hot Springs and what the next move
will be. 1t is we'll known here that per-
sonally Gov. Clarke is not violently op-
posed to the proposed contest. He is
quoted as having said recently that seven
tenths OF the people ID Arkansas wanted
it. that two-tenths were Indifferent in the
matter and that all the clamor raised
against it came from the other tenth part
of the population. When Judge Dufie
brought the matter to the governors at
tention in an official way, however, he
was obliged to act and he at once began
close investigation of his authority in
the premises which resulted in the letters
referred to.
These letters would seem to put a
quietus on the whole matter, but after in-
vestigating the law Gov Clarke has
discovered legal tangle that may result
advantage. While examining the law
relating to prize-fghts. the discovery has
been made that the act of 1891 making
prize fghtips felony was never passed.
The trouble was that the two houses
could not agree Gu the bill and it was
sent to conference, and Wh,n its report
was presented to the house Z was adopt
cd simply by g viva voce vote. the ayas
a:4d nSss not having been called. As the
idW VI 1000 SOUsHt " dll4AltSi act,
it would seem that there IS 70 lazy on
tt.e subject Of prize fighting in this State.
The Az; rel9 ting to riots, Unlawful as
semblages, etc. passed in 1888, con fcrs
extraordinary powers upon the governor
and could perhaps be brought into reoui-
sition to cover the case should the gov
crnor deem it necessary to go to extreme
measures BY this law the governor is
authorized to call out the militia without
waiting for request for assistance from
local authorities and is empowered to
expel with force all dsturbers of the
peace.
In connection it is an interesting fact
that since the Legislature refused to up>
propriate money for the maintenance of
the state militia every company of SOL
diers in the state has disbanded. The
more enthusiastic advocates of the con.
test have not lost confidence in the Hot
Springs company and believe the fight
will yet be brought off on schedule time.
Attorney Martin is considered to be one
of the best lawyers in the state and act
ing upon his advice, the Hot Springs
company posted a $4,000 guarantee that
the fight would be brought off successful
ly Had there been any possible doubt
in the matter those who know Mr.. Mar
tin say the project would never have
been ATTEMPTED.