The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-26
POTTS SONS FIGHT
OUT THEIR BELLIGERENT
TENDENCIES
HELD DOWN IN MINNESOTA

Here They Have to Behave Pretty
Well RS to Ffsticufgs, but There
Is One Scion of the Family Who
Wants to Fight, and Has Man
aGeF, With Words to Burn-Chi-
cagOan Comes Back at Him.
Minnesota sports have for long time
on certain kinds of exhibitions, and the
depth of sorrow to which these laws have
driven some Of the Gopher state people
has been revealed to the world at last.
The New York Morning Telegraph has a
long story from Lou Heuseman, as fol-
lows: 10,
Another champion has arisen in the
West Etne, Cans, Sullivan, McFadden
and all of the rest of the lightweight men
must look to their laurels. Ali the new
man warts is a. chance. His name is
Potts. He has a manager with full eon-
fidenee in his proWess, and who Is trained
to the hour in the use of the dictionary,
Potts may come to Chicago soon and set
things a-boiling. The following corre-
spendence will about tell the whole story:
Potts had never been heard Of in this
community until the first Of the following
letters reached the manager Of a local
athletic club Potts is handicapped and
fettered by the laws of his native state.
and he wants to get out, be turned loose
and do things. The answer, which shows
that Mr.. Potts has good chance and will
have a good time In Chicago, where he IS
believed to have at least one distinguish
ed relative, will be interesting to all fol-
lowers of the fstic game, who are ever
on the lookout for new good things. The
following letter, dated Minneapolis, Mimi,
Feb A. is from Mr.. Potts manager, and
was addressed to the athletic club in ques-
ton:
s'.I beg to invite your attention to a
matter which I believe deserves serious
consideration. AS you are undoubtedly
aware, adverse boxing legislation in the
state of Minnesota has obyiated the
possibility of producing any champions
of national renown, and at the present
time the sport which has been declining
for years, is practically dead. True, the
municipal authorities of several cities
have countenanced, or at least tolerated,
boxing exhibitions of limited duration.
but within the past year unprincipled
promoters, with no regard save for
the financial considerations derived
from the sport, have succeeded In COM
pletely crushing the game. Absolutely
nothing can be accomplished here at this
time without an utter disregard for the
rigid state law, which provides q penalty
of from thirty to ninety days (WorkhouSe
sentence), without the option of a fine.
The Henley Athletic association boasts
of a half dozen fighting machines" but
the particular one to which / desire to
direct your attention Is James E. Potts,
d 152-pounder, whom authorities as
unit, declare to be the equal, If not the
superior, CT any of the Eastern celebri-
ties. The contingency OF his eventually
obtaining a deserved recognition in this
vicinity is so remote that the Minnea polls
public feef he should be granted an ap-
portunity of demonstrating his abilities
elsewhere With this end IN view, l
would respectfully ask that you interpret
this communication as sweeping chal-
lenee to any man in Chicago between the
weights of 126 and 132, the fight to take
mace within a month. In order to as
SIRE you that our claims for this man
contain not the slightest element of ap-
Proclamation or vaingloryisTn, We will be
entirely wiring to entertain and conform
to any conditions which YOU may elect
fer the occasion. Kindly advise me of
YOUR sentiments Immediately and greatly
oblige yours, very truly.
pronouns, propositions, adjecttves and
Understanding a1verbs, the club manager
fnstigated the following, and deputfzed
his Uncle Samuel committee OF one to
forward it through the mails to the
young man who pilots the ring destinies
of the embryonic champion from the
wilds of Minnesota:
ST take time from other pressing and
serious duties to devote 1T to the merited
speedy reply your complacent communi-
cation of the 14th, which my secretariat
has lust placed before me. / thoroughly
appreciate the general and traHscendental
truths you have so concise-y and clearly
brought to my mind. Not that I have
hitherto been unaware of them, as, Ike
Yourself, I grieveusly deprecate the re-
Yoarkable conditions under which the
manly sport in which we both take SO
,,uch interest, and which go enthusfas-
ticaIly. appeals TO all true men, is now
laneuishing. am not inclined to agree
with YOU that the sport Is entirely dead,
hut rather in meribund condition-un-
dareoing a lingering demise, as 1t were.
II is very true, as you say, that the mtl-
yicinal authorities of several cities toll
erate boxing exhibitions of limited dura-
tion hut even these conservative officials
bave suffered from unprincip.ed premot-
orc who have grown utriculated as to the
head and greedy as to the pocket under
+ba Iittle iecway that Is allowed them
rov AS one of the great writers OF our
1a,o,,aee. of which, unfortunately have
,ot an adequate command. or. at least
suff5cfent TO express my sentiments on