The San Francisco call., 1897-03-02
SHALL.::.A
Belt: Be.
GIVEN 2
Citizens of Nevada Take
Sides Over Dempsey's
Proposition.
STRONG OPPOSITION TO
HIS BILL.
Anti-Fight Element Believes the
Legislature. Is Going
Too Far.
ACTIVITY AT THE TRAINING
QUARTERS.
90. a.
p corbett and Fltzsimmons. Use Their
Understudies for Punching:
Bags.
ACTIVITY AT THE TRAINING
QUARTERS.
Cor bett and Ftzsimmons. Use Their
Understudies- for Punching:
Bags.

CARSON, New, March /: This belt of
Nevada silver bullion, emblema attic of the
worlds pugilistlc championship, which rs
to be provided for in bill about to be IN
troduced in the Nevada Legislature and
will be presented to the winner of the
-Fitzsimmons contest. took the
place of nearly every other subject in dis
cussioh on the streets of Carson to-day,
and is still being talked about. There is
going to be a division of sentiment on the
propriety OF allowing "a measure of this
character. to. be spread upon the statute
books, and, while the opposition may not
develop enough strength to defeat the bill
in the Legislature, should vote be taken,
there is a probability that 1t may result in
the withdrawal or pigeon-holing of the
document.
Hon. Timothy Dempsey, the Assem-
blyman who intends Introducing the
measure, assures me, however, that he is
thoroughly in earnest, and that he is not
going to meet with defeat. He says he
made a thorough canvass of the members
of both. branches of the Legislature before
he decided to go ahead; and found that a
great majority would approve OF the bill.
The measure is at present being drafted
by Hon.. Thomas Tenant of Carson, one
of the brightest lawyers here, and a man
who has served SIX terms in the Nevada
Legislature. The title of the bill is: 'An
act recognizing the science of physical
culture ethics, and appr opriating $4,000 for
Nevada's einblemaiical testimonial to the
winner of the worlds heavyweight box
olo g /
forthcoming contest at Carson City, March
II, 1897"
q. The opposition 80 far developed to As
semblyman. Dempsey's bill comes from
the same class of citizens-the conserva-
tive and highly moral eiement-that so
emphatically disapproved of and en-
.deavored to defeat the original boxing
bill which made possible the great Cor
bett- -Fitzsimm ons battle in Carson. After
the bill became a law they bowed in sub
mission and waited for an opportunity to
say, Il told you so." They anticipated
that the State would come in for a royal
roasting from the press and pulpit of the
world because of the alleged immortality
of its population; but when they found
that they were getting off com paratlvely
easily, they concluded that such terrible
crime had not been committed after all,
and began TO thinking seriously of pur-
chasing choice seats for the big battle:
But when it comes to talking about
doubling the seal of approval on prize
fighting in Nevada byappropriating pub
lie funds for the purchase. of a champion
ship belt for the winner of the approaching
mill, these people are up liz arms again.
They declare it is going a step too far and
they propose to see that the Dempsey
measure is defeated, if such. a thing is
within their power.
1--WE might just as we'll turn the State
into second Monte Carlo and be done
with it," was the way one of the opposi-
tion put it tonight. ut was going far
enough to legalize the coming boxing con-
tests, but to gloat over it by presenting
championship belts will be to invite a
castigation from the rest of the woofld-
and We would richly deserve it.'
But everybody does not think this wav.
AS a matter of fact, if it came right down
to vote of the people tomorrow, L
believe that not only would the boxing bill
be approved, but the Dempsey measure as
WELL.
Mr.. Dempsey says he will introduce his
bill tomorrow or the next day and urge
its early consideration. He feels quite.
confident that it will pass.
'..And why not2'' he asked, when seen
this evening. Nevada. has come: out
openly and above board and Iegalized box
ing contests. She is not winking at I'm.
lawful fights. as is nearly every other
State IN ha TTpi6p Va,, ,o;otr
newspaper and glance over it and in the
dispatches you will read of dozen prize
fights taxing place in different parts OF
the United States almost every night in
the week. Yet these same States pretend
that they DO not tolerate boxing. Now. l
believe that, inasmuch as we have gone
into this matter, we might just as well do
thingsin style and right up to the handle.
The contest between Corbett and Fitz-
simmons will decide the championship of
the world and Will undoubtedly be the
greatest affair of the kind occurring in the
nineteenth century. Nevada will thereby
be the best advertised State in the Union.
1t would be no more than right, therefore.
that she should show her appreciation by
offering small token such as the belt
suggested would be-. Ny idea is that this
belt should be-a perpetual representation
ofthe championship-tha is, it should be
held by the winner of this battle until he
either resigns his title or. is defeated by
some other aspirant md then it should
go TO the new champion. 1t would be
known as the famous Nevada belt the
world over''
Governor sadler still declines to say
whether or not he will sign the Dempsey
bill when it is. presented to him, pre-
terring, he. says, to wait until he sees it
before expressing an opinion. Those who
are close to him still insist that he favors
The project.
Both Corbett and Fitzsimnons worked
hard to-day. The tall Cornishman seemed
anxious to make uR Tor the losing he in