The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-10
TWO NATIONS ON GUARD
To Prevent the Prize Fight on Either's
Territory,


Territory,
WASHINGTON, Feb 10-If an attempt
is now made by the promoters of the
Fitzsimmons- Maher prize fight to "pulI
it off" in New Mexico the government
will prevent it at all haZards. Attorney
General Harmon said this morning: "If
they fight any territory of the United
States we will follow them to the ends
of the earth if necessary to bring them
to justice.
Opinion here is that Governor CuIber-
son will certainly prevent the fight in
Texas territory and no doubt has in
1uence enough with Mexican author
tiles to prevent its taking place in
Mexico. 1t is understood that Governor
Culberson has gone to the frontier to di-
rect in person the movements of militia
if necessary to prevent this battle taking
place on Texas territory.
Texas undoubtedly will assume juris-
diction of the disputed territory for the
time being. If it is definitely known
where the fight is to come off the author
tiles in that jurisdiction can arrest the
principals before a breach of the peace
takes place.
Senior Romero the Mexican minister
here, says the Maher -Fitzs tight
will not take place in Mexico and signiti-
canoe is lent To this declaration by the
fact that the minister was in
consultation with Secretary Olney
this morning before making the state
ment The lines of the law on both
sides of the Rio Grande are drawing
more closely around The party of pugil-
lists who are standing on the border of
the United States and Mexico, and de-
velopments extremely unpleasant in
their results to the sports may occur at
any moment.
Senior Romero says that the authorities
of the Mexican state OF Chihuahua are
thoroughly in earnest in the determina-
ton to stop the fight, and he points out
that if the sports get across the
line into Mexico they will be
subject to immediate arrest. In other
words, it will not be necessary for the
Mexican officials to wait until effort
is made to fight actually, but having no=Y
satisfactory evidence that there is de-
liberate intention on the part OF pugiI-
lists to break the law of Mexico the le-
gal officers of the state of chihuahua are
under the Mexican practice, at liberty
to arrest every member of the party in
cluding the would be spectators, who by
their presence give encouragement to
intended offence, just as soon as they
cross the boundary line.
As for New NJ exican soil, it is certain
that the territorial officials with tho as
surAnces they have received from the
federal government OF the 1ulIeSt meas
ure of support ia their efforts first to
prevent the fight coming off thereon and
second TO secure the punishment of all
participants if it is pulled off regardless
of where they may seek refuge in the
United States. are now fully able to meet
any movement of the fighters.
In Texas also the way seems to be
closed against the sports by the active
steps taken by Gov Culberson, who has
assembled the Texas rangers near the
scene of rendezvous. and it is moreover
reported that some surprising develop
ments may be looked for in that state
that will discomfit the pugilists.
Whether this means that the governor
will adopt the Mexican plan of
raiding the party before they ac-
tualiy commit an overt act or not, cam
not be determined at this distance
but it is surmised that he may feel justi-
fed in taking some such action if he is
assured of the purpose of the party to