The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-07-02
FIGHT ARENA IS
COMPLETE
CONTINUED from Page ~

of the annual church conferences
and conventions The Governor, the
Mayor, and even the President were
appealed to, and the story of the
Governors final interference is now
history.
The first problem encountered by
the promoters after the men had
signed articles was that of selecting
a Site Richard declared himself in
favor of Salt Lake City, Utah, and
it looked for a time as though the
match would be staged there. Jack
Gleason, Richards associate, is
San Franciscan, however, and he was
equally determined that the fight
should be held in his home city. The
difference between Rickar1 and
Gleason continued until the COVER
nor of Utah plainly intimated that
his stand would be against the
fight, and Richard yielded the point.
When Richard and Gleason finally
decided upon holding the fight on
the coast, the question of the exact
place was still in doubt for several
weeks. 1t was found that the Board
of Supervisors of San Francisco, un-
der the new administration which
took office at the beginning of the
year, was willing to grant a forty
five round permit, breaking the
twenty-round limit, but still there
was friction at some points, and fin
ally it was decided to take the fight
across the bay.
Emeryville is the site of the New
California Jockey Club race track.
1t is convenient to all railroads,
street cars and ferry boats, and when
the sporting world heard that Presi-
dent Williams of the Jockey Club
had consented to the use of the
grounds for the fight arena, they
breathed a sigh of relief. 1t looked
as though the way was cleared at
last. The men were in training,
plans for the arena were drawn, the
agreed portions of the gigantic purse
were deposited, and everything
looked smooth.
Big Church Opposition.
Right in the midst of this, how
ever, the church opposition came.
The people of the east bay shore
where Emeryville Is located brought
great pressure to bear upon the
county officials. 1t was announced
that the fight would be stopped at
the first indication that it was any
thing more than the sparring contest
it purported to be. This statement
created alarm, and when it was fol-
lowed by a request from Williams
that the promoters, if possible, find
some other place, sportdOm suffered
a decided blue spell. Williams said
he would keep his bargain with
Richard, but it was evident that he
did not desire to do so.
The promoters then began to ga
Their their forces in San Francisco
again. A storm of objection and pro-
test was raised by the church feder-
ations and like organizations, but
the police committee of the Supervis-
ors recommended that the forty
five round permit be granted. At
torneys were employed by the church
people to fight the matter before the
supervisors. Everyone expected
verbal battle at least, and when the
recommendation came up for action,
the board room was crowded.
1t is not everyone, however, who
Is familiar with the routine of board
meetings Very quietly the commit
tees recommendation was advanced
on the days program of business,
called up, and the permit granted
without a word having been said
against it, The opposition did not
realize what was going forward until
it was too late even to protest.
The pressure upon the Governor
had not been RENTED for moment.
He declared that he did not believe
the state law would Justify interven-
ton, however, and with this state
ment from a man known to be OPP
posed to prize-fighting, the promot-
ers were content. They did not fear
that the authorities would step in,-
and carried their preparations Tor
ward without further consideration
of the opposition.
Great was the CONSERVATION,
therefore, when Governor Gillett.
when the actual erection OF the arena
had been begun. and everything was
considered settled, announced that
he regarded the contest as a prize
fight and not boxing contest, and
that, in accordance with the laws
of California, he would not permit it
to be held. There was talk of con-
test in the courts, but it was seen
that this would be too long drawn
out to admit OF q decision in time to
stage the fight, and the Governor
making 1t decidedly plain that he
meant what he said. and would go
to all legal lengths to stop the affair,