Omaha daily bee., 1900-12-30
FIGHT ISUP TO The GOVERNOR
ohios Chief Executive Says Jeffries-Ruhlin
Match Cannot Take Place.
MAYOR FLESCHMANN SAYS IT CAN
Contest booked for Cincinnati May
Resolve Itself Into Question of
Authority between the
Two officers.

Affairs pugilistic are in chaotic state
Just now and the prize fighter finds him
self up against what appears to be the
real thing" Even the championship
event between Jenres and Rubin, which
has been announced with such great gusto
as a sure go in Cincinnati. February 10, Is
likely to die a-bornin', for Governor Nash OF
Ohio has issued pronuncamonto declaring
that he has not been interviewed In the
matter and suggesting that the laws of
Ohio consider prize fighting as a felony.
mo one has consulted me about this mat
ter" Governor Nash Is quoted as saying,
"snd want it distinctly understood that
do rot approve Of prize fights, participation
in which is felony under the laws Of
Ohio. ] have not yet looked into the mat
ter TO ascertain what my duties are, but
the public may rest assured that whatever
they are | will meet them promptly
Mayor Julius Fleschmann however, rests
serenely upon his guns and announces that
he has given his consent for the holding OF
the big show and that no interference will
be brooked in his plans. The mayor makes
no reservation in the declaration that the
fight will be permitted. II guess am about
the biggest authority around here" he
says "and | wish It could be made plain
that know OF no one who is going to inter
fere with the present arrangements
have said that | would issue a permit for
the contest, for I believe, as do some OF
the very best business men and those of
some public spirit, that the contest being
conducted as 1t will, In an orderly and
decent manner. is going to be big adver-
tisement for the city and will bring much
money here.
"There Is not going to be any rough
work of any sort The price Of admission
will be high enough to bar any of the un-
desirable element. The contestants arc OF
championship caliber and there is no chance
OF the contest being anything but clean
cut and devoid of all features of brutality,
which are such popular argument OF those
who want to stop fighting"
II looks now as though the situation has
settled down to the settling of the argu-
ment between the governor OF Ohio and the
mayor OF Cincinnati. Each has turned the
box and It is now horse apiece. with the
third horse decidedly in favor Of the gov
ernor. in case he plays his hand according
to his published statement.
Meantime. however. the Cincinnati pro-
moters are proceeding with their arrange
ments. Billy Brady. the great fight pro-
moter and manager, has been selected to
take charge of the affair, but even Brady
himself doesn't seem to know Just where he
Is at The day after Christmas he Is quoted
as saying that enevn though he had been
selected to manage the affair, II wouldn't
come off because OF the objection of the au-
thorities. II the whole matter is a game Of
blun II Is an interesting one, to say the
least, and, meantime, Cincinnati is get
ting all sorts of advertising out OF the af
fair and that's one of the things the may or
has been looking for.
All over the country the fighting game has
been receiving a series OF solar plexus blows
that bespeak the necessity Of future fights
being pulled off on some desert island in a
balloon or else forcing the members Of the
pugilistic profession to seek other employ
ment. In New York. Chicago, Omaha and
any number OF other cities that could be
mentioned the seal of official disapproval
has been stamped, and II Cincinnati follows
the precendent established 1t looks as
though the Jig were up.
Carson City may be used again as a place
OF last resort, provided the championship
problem becomes sufficiently complicated to
force the deciding of conclusions between
the top-notchers 1t is a certainty how
ever, that Jeffries and Rubin will never
fight in Carson City. Such q match would
not be sufficient of a drawing card to war
rant Dan Stuart or any other promoter in
pulling off a contest in the wilds OF the
west.
Mr.. Jeffries is probably viewing the stua-
tion with n deal of interest. To him the
view of life long hold on the champion
ship because of lack Of opportunity to have
IT, wrested from him may well be roseate-
hued and he can continue drawing down q
corpuent competence from stalking before
the footlights and umpiring base ball games
An effort will be made before the cominl
legislature of New York to revive the fight.
ing game along lines that will be open to as
little criticism possible Assemblyman
elect Brooks OF Albany has in mind the In
PRODUCTION of a bill to lesalize boxing bu
there Is little prospect for the alteration o
the present situation in New York. Boti
houses are republican ana the question o
prize fighting has at all times been a po
litical issue in the Empire state with thu
republicans generally opposed to it, BE
sides Governor elect Odell 10 antagonlstic 4
the sport and would probably veto any sucl
bill were 1t fortunate enough to run tn
gauntlet before 1t should reach him.
Speaking OF this general shutting down O
prize fighting, a Chicago writer says
The rout of the poor fighter is now com
plete Cincinnati was about the last hop
held out to him and that Is tottertng. BE
ginning with the repeal OF the Horton lay
In New York September |, before whic
time there were plenty of fights decided /
New York. pugilism has received n few jar
ring punches that almost puts the bushes
off the map. Outside of New York. Chi
cago presented the best field for the am
bilious glove man. Then along came Jo
Cans who either did or did not fake a figf
at Tattersalrs with Terry McGovern an
now the game is dead as a mackerel her,
other towns, including grand possibit
nj Cincinnati. followed In the wake of CHI
cago Omahas mayor decided he did nC
want any more of the game and called