Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-23

Chicago, March pa knock out for
pugilisln in America is the purpose of
a giant blow aimed to-day. No less
a man than the President of the United
States is to administer the knock out,
unless mishap comes to far-reaching
plans which were brought to a focus
this afternoon.
President Mckinley is to have the
aid of Congress, and of the Governor
and Legislature of every State in the
Union. hat at least is the intention OF
the national officers and members OF
the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union. An appeal was forwarded to-
day as follows:
Chicago, March %.
To His Excellency, the President of the
United States:
Honored Ruler:-As the official rep
resentative of the three hundred thous-
and members of the Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union of the United
States. we earnestly entreat you TO call
upon Congress to prohibit in the Dis
trict of Columbia and throughout the
various territories, the reproductions
by means of the kinetescope' or kindred
Instruments. of the Corbett-FitZsim-
mons fight. or of any like exhibition
at any future time.
We believe that in making this re-
quest. We are seeking the best welfare
of the citizens, especially the youth OF
our land. who could not but be brutal
lied by such life-like representations
of these degrading spectacles. We
learn that preparations upon the larg-
est scale are being made for invading,
not alone out great cities, but every
village and hamlet with this spectacu-
lar performance; so that bad as was
the influence of the fight upon the
comparative few who witnessed it in
person. it would be infinitely worse,
because so much more far reaching if
thus produced.
We are making q like request of the
chief officials and legislatures Of the
various States and have strong hope
that. in the majority of them, neces-
sary legislation may result.
We are glad to feel assured at the
outset. that your personal sympathy
must be with us, and that your official
sanction will be given to this request,
so clearly in the interests Of morality.
Sincerely and respectfully yours,
FRANCIS E. WILLARD, President
National W. C. 7. L.
KATHARINE LENTE STEVENSON,
Corresponding Secretary National
w. c. T. L.
Chicago March 22.-To His Excel
lency. Governor of -
Honored Sir:-As the official repre-
sentative Of the three hundred thousand
members Of the Womans Christian
Temperance Union of the United States
ne earnestly entreat you TO do all III
vour power to see that bill is intro
duced into and carried through the Leg
islature of your State, which shall pro-
hibit the reproduction, by means or the
Wholesome or kindred instruments, OF
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. fight, or OF
any like exhibition at any future time.
Preparations upon the largest scales
are being made for invading, not alone
the cities. but the villages and ham!ets
of the land with these life-like represen-
tation of this degrading spectacle. We
feel that if this should be allowed to go
on. the influence of the fight upon the
comparative few who witnessed it in
person. would be smaller compared
with what will follow this wholesale
exhibition. Especially do we fear its
affect upon the youth of our land. as
well as upoa the fathers and mothers.
We have already petitioned Presi-
dent Mckinley TO use his authority 10
prevent this in the district of Columbia
and the territories. and We are sending
this letter to the Governors Of the var
ious States. May We not hope for your
personal cooperation and earnest en-
dorsement? We learn through the
newspapers that Massachusetts and Il
linois have already introduced bills pro-
hibiting these exhibitions. We trust
these are only the preludes to a great
chorus Of protests which shall arise
from every State in our nation.
In the interests Of true citizenship,
we have the homer TO sign ourselves,
Very sincerely yours.
FRANCES E. WILLARD.
President Nat. w. c. T. L.
KATHARINE LENTE STEVENSON,
Cor. Sec. Nat w. c. T. [.
Letters have already been sent 10 the
National Superintendent OF Purity, DR..
Mary Wood Allen, of Michigan. and to
the National Superintendent Of Purity
in Literature and Art. Mrs. Emily d.
Martin. of New York City. urging them
to take up this issue and pushing il
through their departments all over the
United States The attention Of every
State W c. T. L. president will also
be called 10 il. and they will be re-
quested TO use their influence with their
legislators by letters and petitions at
once The leading editorial in the next
Union Signal is upon the subject of the
evil effects OF this brutal exhibition
through the kinetescope.
IRELAND WITH THE WOMEN.
Washington, March 22.-The appeal
Of the president of the Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union TO President
Mckinley and the Governors of the