The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-13
FIGHT PROMOTERS ENVY
PROTESTS FROM SMALLER TOWNS
AGAINST sPARBING BOUTS HERE.
Governor Had Deputy Attorney Cen
ernI Investigate and No Inter
ference Was Made.

Because OF protests received from gas
belt cities and other towns in the State
where Governor Durbin has placed a ban
on prize-hghting. IL is said that he desires
TO prohibit boxing exhibitions in this city.
such as have been held at the Empire
Theater this summer. 4. c. Hadley. deputy
attorney general. went TO the theater on
Monday afternoon and told Manager zim-
norman that the Governor had Instructed
the attorney general to bring proceedings
against the company owning the theater
to dissolve it's corporate power In case 1t
permitted the contest between Eddie Santry
and Ole Olson 20 take place that night.
Zimmerman called William w. Lowry,
attorney for the theater. and asked his
opinion regarding the matter. Lowry eN-
amined the contracts on which the boxers
were secured for the exhibition and gave
his opinion that the law was not being
violated in any respect and there was no
intention to violate the law. and advised
Zimmerman TO permit the managers OF the
exhibition sparring TO give II. The man
ayers also met Mr.. Hadley and showed him
all the contracts between them and the
boxers, and said the shows have been con-
Quoted in strict compliance with the law.
Mr.. Hadley was also informed OF the re-
strictions that were placed on the exhibit
tons by Mayor Bookwalter and Superin-
tendent Of Police Tane 10 the effect that
all boxers were warned against fighting.
The contracts with the boxers showed
that they were to be paid a stipulated
amount for their services and there was no
prize offered, such as is hung up for a
prize fight. Mr.. Hadiey was invited to wit
ness the exhibition on Monday night. He
did so and made his report 10 Governor
Durbin yesterday morning. Il was Wen
satisfied with the exhibitions / saw said
Mr.. Hadley 10 a reporter yesterday after
noon, and / Informed the Governor OF
what l had witnessed and learned regard
ing the manner OF conducting the contests.
He told me that no action would be taken
against the theater management and re-
marked that he was glad that we had
taken no further steps regarding the mat
ter"
Mr.. Hadley did not state what the Gov
errors intentions were regarding contests
in the future or If the executive had de-
cided on any course TO pursue regarding
the exhibitions in Indianapolis. He has
refused 10 permit sO-called athletic assO-
Citations throughout the State 10 give box
ing contests. as the privileges were abused
in former years in smaller cities. where
the promoters had TO circulate reports
that the men would 'go for keeps" In or
der TO secure crowds. and unless there
were knockouts the fights would not be
we'll patronized. Promoters i'm smaller
towns never secured clever boxers To give
] eDdEIlllk tAIlDlAlOIS. Dul nulk UP UllLt1
for fighters 10 battle for and such con-
ditions constituted a prize fight. Smaller
towns would not support high-class spar
ring exhibitions such as have been given
I'm Indianapolis with the same restrictions
upon them, but promoters in smaller towns
have demanded of the Governor that he
permit them TO give contests or stop the
exhibitions I'm this city.
THE MAYORS POSITION.
Mayor Bookwalter said yesterday that
he had received no suggestion from Gov
ernor Durbin i'm reference to repetitions
Of the boxing matches that have been held
at the Empire Theater. He said there was
no necessity for interference by the Gov
ernor, as all Of the contests were lawful.
Il have always made IL a point" said
the mayor, Ito notify participants the aft
ernoon before a contest was to take place
that there must be no fighting. II must be
a boxing match according TO the intent OF
the law. 1 have always had superintendent
Taffe present and his Instructions were "a
promptly arrest all participants. whether
principals or hackers, whenever the eN-
hibit ceased to be a boxing contest. / am
satisfied all the contests nave been kept
within legal bounds"
The mayor did not say what he would
do in case other boxing matches were adj
v~ertised further than that he would have
the law fully enforced.