The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-18

IFIS Will De no DrlZe ISntS at the
Minneapolis exposition building tonight
and the sporting enthusiasts of tho Twin
Cities will have to suck their thumbs in
disappointment. Gov. Van SAINT has
asked Mayor A. A. Ames, Of Minneapolis,
TO prevent the fights on the ground
that they would be against the penal
laws of the state and that Official has
replied in an amusing, characteristic
fashion that he will forbid the exhi-
bition"
Yesterday morning in Minneapolis.
there was conference between the TWO
officials. What was said is not known
further than that the conversation turl-
ed upon the proposed exhibition that was
scheduled for tonight at the big building
on the East side. Judging from what is
known Of Mayor Ames' views or enter
tainuents of this character, however.
it is a safe guess that there was a d1-
vergencG of opinion. This opinion re-
ceives an added confirmation in the fact
that soon after returning to the city, the
governor called up Attorney General
Douglas by telephone and asked for
legal opinion as to the status of the
proposed exhibition. In reply to his
the following letter which was received
by the governor at about o'clock last
evening:
To His EXcellency, Hon. S. R. Van
SAINT, Governor of the State of Minneso-
ta-Sir: Attention is called to the lact
that it appears from the press and other
reliable information furnished, that a
series of ring fights, sparring Matches
glove contests or boxing contests. rom
monty called prize fights, l.etween well
known pugilists, will be held at the TX
position building, in Minneapolis, on Mon
Gay evening. Feb. is, 1900.
You inquire whether these contests be-
tween two or more persons, with or with
fe. %,ICN NfCx, @F4
laws of the state. Replying thereto 1
call your attention to section 6947, q. S.
1894, being section / of chapter 12 of the
General Laws of 1889, which, in past,
"Any person who within this state en-
cages in, instigates, aids or encourages
OF does any act to further & contention
or fight commonly called a ring or prize
fight, or a contention commonly called
a sparring match in which the contest
ants are provided with gloves, or VINO
sends or publishes cha1enge for such
contention or prize fight or sparring
match, with or without gloves,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and upon conviction thereof shall be pun
ished by Imprisonment in the county
jail for not less than thirty or more than
ninety days"
In my judgment, the contentious com
monty called sparring or boxing matches
or quite generally called prize fights
which are advertised to take place be-
tween divers persons in Minneapolis with
gloves will clearly be in violation of the
penal law of this state, and will operate
to subject to imprisonment unon convic-
ton, all participants. timekeererS, the
referee, or other persons assisting in or
encouraging such fights or contests.
l beg to further add that, IN my Opin-
ion, it is the duty of the executive officer
OF the city of Minneapolis, as we'll as
the county of Hennepin, to use all force
at their command in preventing such
I have the honor to remain yours re-
spectfully, ~. B. Douglas,
Attorney General.
GOVERNOR GETS BUSY.
Immediately upon receipt of the COM
munication, the governor set to work. A
letter was written to Mayor Ames, call
ing his attention to the opinion of the
states legal officer, which was enclosed
with his own communication, asking
that the doctor forbid the contest, and
intirnating that unless he did So the gov
ernor would be compelled to interfere
These letters were entrusted to a special
messenger and forwarded to Mayor
Ames The governors communication
ran as follows:
Hon A. A. Ames, Mayor City of Min
neapolis-Dear Sir: Permit me to call
your attention to the opinion Of the at
torney general, a duplicate of which IS
hereto attached. to the effect that the
fistic exhibition arranged for MONDAY
evening Feb IS, 1901 at the Exposition
building in the city of Minneapolis, is in
violation of the penal laws OF the state.
1 respectfully ask that you prevent this
proposed infractior of the law. The law
must not be violated as contemplated,
and [ hope that your action will be such
as to prevent the necessity Of interfer-
ence on my part as governor Of the state.
May 1 be favored with your answer by
bearer as to whether you will prevent
the proposed exhibition? Respectfully,
$. r. Van SAINT, Governor.
AMEs SAYS HE'LL STOP IT.
To this missive Mayor Ames returned
the following characteristic reply
Gov. s. r. Van SAINT, St. Paul, MINI
Governor: Your communication Just at
hand. It has been carefully perused and
carefully considered; and while | think
the law is being drawn pretty strict IN
this case. still I stand ready to comply
with the demand and shall forbid the ex-