The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-02
His Address to the Lone Star Leg
islature Is Eloquent.
REGS 1T UPHOLD THE HONOR AND
DIGNITY OF TEXAS.
Both Branches Have Convened and a Bill
Introduced-No Decisive Action as Yet
Opinions Differ as to the Outcome.

--~ -
Austin, Texas, October 1.-Menbers OF
the legislature called in special session to
pass an anti-prize fighting bill, have been
arriving for the past twenty-four hours.
The sentiment of both houses seems to
strongly favor law making prize light
ing Illegal. A number of representatives,
considered as arbitrary, features OF
the proposed law, which in their Judg-
ment would work injustice to innocent
persons who might be ignorant of the
Little doubt was expressed today that the
Senate will pass the bill with reasonable
promptness The result In the House is
full of uncertainty, as under the rules,
two-thirds vote of the entire legislature
is necessary to pass emergency bills. Men
Austin for years are predicting this after
noon that the session may last until the
first of November unless friends of the
bill will consent to eliminate the
emergency" clause. in which event it
will pass without material delay. After
the roll call the presiding officer of the
Senate briefly explained the Governors s
purpose in calling the legislature in
special session. He expressed the belief
that 1.-THE promptness with which Soma
tors responded, there was AMI Indication
thta they would pass the proposed anti
fighting measure. He closed with the
prize hope that the session might be har
monious and brief.
The presence OF quorum Delng
established in both houses, the Governors
message was laid before the two bodies.
1t was short, sharp and decisive, ana
contained no uncertain sound as to his
attitude concerning prize lighting in
general and the proposed contest be-
tween Corbett and Fitzsimmons in
particular He reviewed past legislation
relating to prize fighting. which sport he
characterized as brutal denloraliZing and
denounced by every State in the Union.
He enumerated states which have enacted
laws making prize fighting felony. and
urged that such laws should be operative
from their passage.
In closing his message the Governor
forcibly and eloquently said: The case of
the friends of this fight rests upon the
audacious proposition that free people
can forfeit or have bargained away the
right to preserve public peace, morals
and public safety.
By the proclamation all persons have
been given notice that this exhibition
could not be permitted, and whatever has
beeu done by its projectors, l will be
responsible for the consequences. Public
interest in this exhibition especially
should be suppressed. Discountenanced
by the country, outlawed and driven
away from every state, 1T is proposed to
assemble q horde of ruffians and gamblers
in Texas and offer her this commanding
insult to public decency, against the
pride of the people, end your prompt
aud resolute action will spare them
ignominy. 1t will do another thing. 1t
will recall to great state, inhabited by
manly, generous and enlightened people.
the wholesome and assuring truth, now
obscured by anger and misconception,
for which they will hereafter thank you,
that no part of IT'S material prosperity,
no part Of its social and Intellectual and
industrial progress, no part of it's splen-
did destiny is bound up in an e1deaVor
to hold within its limits one of the most
disgraceful orgies ever permitted to dis
credit and dishonor Texas. lmpelled by
a sense Of duty to exert every executive
power to avert this calamity. you have
been called in special session, and my
responsibility for the consequences is now
di yided with you. That you will meet
it as becomes representatives of the
whole people, anxious and ready to pro-
tect the fair name OF the state is not
doubte d.
The bill has been introduced and re-
ferred to the Judiciary committee.