Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-02-04
TRICK TO EVADE Law.
Gov. Mash Scores Attempted
Fight Promoters.
COMMANDS SHERIFF TO PREVENT n
Also Wrote Instructions to District At
torney-He Handles Business Men :"
Without Gloves In Reply to Their
Petition.

fettfiDH.
Cincinnati, Feb. 4.-Governor Nash
not oals gave his ultimatum to the
saengeffe4t Athletic club AID to mere
than Loo petitioners from the bust
ness circles of Cincinnati, but he also
gave instructions to Prosecuting At
torney Hoifheimer and Sheriff Tay
lor
The latter received letter from
the governor after midnight Satur-
day night by immediate delivery mes
seuger, which Is very strong docu-
ment. In it his excellency directed
Sheriff Taylor to swear In any NUM-
Der of deputies and exercise his full
est power to prevent the fight, and,
In the event OF the sheriff needing as
sistance, Governor Nash pledged him
the full power of the state.
Columbus. Feb. 4.-Goyernor Nash
made public n statement of his posi-
tion with regard to the proposed JEFF
| fries Rubin fight at Cincinnati, and
the grounds upon which his deter
mination to prevent the fight taking
place in Ohio is based. The state
| ment Is contained In a letter prepared
and mailed Sunday afternoon, in re-
| ply to petition from the John G..
Roth Packing company and 1000
| other citizens OF Cincinnati protest
| Ing against interference with the
| fight. Governor Nash said in his
| letter that he heard the petitioners
had been misled by erroneous legal
advice. He quoted the law relating
to prize fighting and boxing contests,
and said:
| 1.-The proviso upon which you rely
reads as follows: Provided, that
nothing in the foregoing shall apply
| to any public gymnasium. or athletic
| club, or any of the exercises therein,
| If written permission for the specific
purpose shall first have IN obtain
ed from the sheriff of tho county; or.
| if the exercises or exhibition are held
within the limits of municipal cor
poration, of the mayor OF such cor
poration.'
in my opinion, the proviso covers
only exercises among the members of
the club and exhibitions in which
members only take part. Even if my
/ Interpretation is too strict, it does
not authorize the bringing together of
noted prize fighters and the Offering
of a large prize to the one who pre-
walls over the other.
again the Saengerfest association,
of Cincinnati and the exhibition
j which ii proposes to give, is not such
an association, and not such a contest
as is contemplated by section $500.
| As | understand, the contest be-
tween Jeffries and Rubin was ar
ranged for by a lawyer named White
before the association ever had legal
! existence. 1t had 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 off a
contest between two great fighters.
| The law cannot and will not be
| trifled with in this manner. | earn
estly ask YOU to look ut the law as
| have explained it and | think you
will conclude with me that you have
been misled AS | have said to you
in a telegram, l am firmly convinced
that this affair, if it comes off, will
| he a prize fight
Stating his reason for believing
| that the alleged glove contest is to
/ De II IflZp HSHI, the SoNeEuoT TtitIIeu
| to the moving picture contract, which
stated that the profits to be derived
| from these pictures shall be divided
| equally between the association and
the tighter or fighters" Continuing,
he said:
"The winner of the contest is Of
| fered a larger prize, by thousands of
| dollars. than the loser. This will
cause them to strike not only skilful,
| hut 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 conf
dence in the integrity and ability Of
| the maver of the police commission
ers and Of your policemen. In this
! feeling ] fully share, but | am con-
! fident that the affair will be beyond
their control. If they do their best.
! The fighters will be very earnest.
| The immense multitude of people
| gathered from distant states and cit
| les, some of them at least not possess
| Ing the highest order of citizenship.
will be terribly excited. Such men
would brook no interference. they
| will havo no control over themselves.
your police will be overpowered and
your city will be visited with dis
grace which YOU will regret as long
MS you live. Such fearful risks must
not he taken"