The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-02-07
Tie Governor States His Position
in Regard to the Proposed
Jeffries-Ruhlin Fight.
A DETERMINATION TO PREVENT IT.
The Saengertest Association of Cincin.
natl is Not a Regular or Per.
manent Athletic Club.
IL Was Organized for the Purpose
OF Dodging the Law and BRING
ing on u Contest Between
Two Great Pugilists.

Columbus, o.. Feb. t.---Gov. Nash
Sunday made the first public state
lncnt of his position with re:sard to
the proposed Jeffries- Ruiiin fight al
Cincinnati, and the .crot.Ids up II
Which his determination to prevent
the fight taking place in Ohio is
based. The statement is contained
III Il letter prepared and mailed
Sunday afternoon in reply to a pc
titiou from the John c. Roth Pack
ing Co. and 1000 other citizens of
Cincinnati protesting against inter-
ference with the fight.
Gov. Nash says in his letter that
he fears the petitioners have been
misled by erroneous legal advice. He
quotes the law relating to prize fight
ing and boxing contests, and says:
The proviso upon which you rely,
reads as follows:
PROVIDED that nothing in the fore
going shall apply to any public gym
nasium. athletic club. or any of The
exercises therein, if written permis-
sion for the specific purpose shall
first have been obtained from the
sheriff of the county: or, if the exer
cises or exhibition are held within
the limits of IA municipal corporation
of the mayor of such corporation
In my opinion, the proviso only
covers exercises among thr mcInbc.s
of the club and exhibitions in WI ich
members only take part. Even if
my Interpretation is too strict ii
does not authorize the nrin.mg to-
gether of noted prize figh -ers aud
the offering of a large pril. tD the
one who prevails over the othe".
again. the Saengerfest \ssocia-
ton Co. of Cincinnati. o., and the
exhibition which ii proposes to give.
is not such an association ANA not
such contest as is contemplated
by Section $500. As ! understand,
the contest between Jeffries and
Rubin was arranged tor by lawyer
by the name of Witte. before the
association4even had "A legal exist
ence. 1t has no gymnasium or hall
for athletic purposes, no distinct
membership and none of the para
phernalia of an athletic club. 1t was
organized simply for the purpose of
lodging the law and bringing oil
contest between two great ligh2ers.
The law can not anu will not be
trifled with in this manner. | earn
estly ask you to look at the law as
] have explained it, and | think YOU
will conclude with me that you have
been misled. AS | have already said
to you in II telegram, | am firmly
convinced that this affair. if it co.ues
off, will be a prize fight.
Stating his reasons for believing
that the alleged glove contest is 10
be a prize fight. the governor refers
to the moving picture contract which
states that the profits to be derived
from these pictures shall be divided
equally between the association and
fighter or fighters. Continuing, he
says: THE winner of the contest
is offered larger prize. by thou
sands of dollars, than the loser. This
will cause them TO strike, not only
skilful. but hard. blows. You say
that your mayor and your splendid
police force will be on hand and see
that the law is not violated. You
express confidence in the integrity
and ability OF the mayor, or the po-
lice commissioner and of your po-
lcemen. In this feeling | fully
share. But am confident that the
affair will be beyond their control
if they do their best"
The immense multitude of people
gathered from distant states and cit
les, some of them at least not pos
sessing the highest order of citizen
ship. will be terribly excited. Such
men would brook no interference,
they will have no control over them
selves, your police will be overpower-
ed, and your city will be visited with
disgrace, which you will regret as
long as you live. Such fearful risks
must not be taken"
Cincinnati, Feb. 4.-There has been
no change in the arrangements to
give two glove contests AT Saenger-
fest hall on February Is. Members
of the Saengerfest Athletic club who
We're seen Sunday stated that they
will be guided by the advice of their
attorneys The lawyers will again tell
their clients that they have a perfect
right, under section $500, of the Re
yised Statutes of Ohio, to give glove
contests under a permit from the
mayor. This permit has been OBJ
tanned and the promoters claim that
they will GO right along with prepa-
rations for the contests. The trial
of Jeffries and Rubin before Squire
Roebling on charge that they are
training for a prize fight was post
poned Monday until next Monday at
the request of the attorneys on both
sides.