The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-30
MR. FHRASHER PROTESTS
AGAINST PRIZE FIGHT TO BE
 HELD IN LOUISVILLE.
Protest ia tn the Form of an Open Letter --11issIve Addressed to Colonel WatteE- son-An Abstract of the Letter-COn- tRIns Many Points of Interest.

An open letter in regard to the pro- posed contest at Louisville between Terry McGovern and Young Corbett has been addressed to Colonel Henry Watterson, of Louisville, by Secretary s. P. Thrasher, of the Law anr Order league of Connecticut. In the letter MT. Thrasher says:
 This is an age when the moral in- terests of the whole land are more or less bound together and when ofttimes one part of the country pulsates to the sentiment of another. This, and your well known reputation, constitute my only apology for addressing you openly on the subject of the prize fight, alias boxing match, arranged to take place in Louisville on the evening of Septem- Der 22."
 l After speaking of the effect of the re- peal of the Horton law in New York state, in turning the attention of sport ing men to Connecticut as a place ito pull off fights,'' MT. Thrasher in his let ter speaks of the agitation which fol- lowed the match between McGovern and Corbett at Hartford on last Thanksgiving day. Both in Hartford, | he says, and in New Haven, where an- other fight was held, the newspapers took an active part fin the agitation, with the result that further licenses | were refused. The letter continues by declaring that concerted effort was made by those who were interested in | the second contest bstween McGovern and Young Corbett to call the affair a I boxing match" "a sparring exhibition for points" At the same time, among themselves and in the New York pa- pers, the character of the approaching contest was clearly announced as bat | u, a gladiatorial combat in which the hardest blows, best directed to jaw, solar plexus or heart, were to win. MT. Thrasher then quotes from published description by Terry McGovern of the terrible punishment administered by McGoverrl to Dave Sullivan in their last contest. 4
 | After reciting the steps by which the | intended contest between McGoverr and Corbett at New London was pre- | vented the letter concludes: | Louisville should not be regarded as the dumping place for pugilists, when shut out from New York, St. Louis Philadelphia New London or elsewhere It would seem to be feasible for some kind of an anti-prize dght movement to be inaugurated in your city. You could undoubtedly exercise a mighty influence toward turning or strength ening public sentiment, if not for the revocation of the license of September P, at least for the refusal of future li- censes of the same sort.
 Tt may be that am presuming toe much. must acknowledge that dc not know what the sentiment of your city is, neither do I know the text of your statute law bearing upon this sub- jeet, but think that know from your writings that you are opposed to hypoc- risy If this kind. The calling of bru- tai prize f1ghtfa boxing match does not change its character. If the people of Louisville want a prize fight they should understand that they are to be treated to the real article on Septem- Der 22. As to this phase of the case. l am sure we rein accord"