Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-16
DESIRE FOR PANAMA
BELIEVED HIS REASON
CALIFORNIA; Chief Executive Suddenly
Changes in His Views as to the
Ring Contest Scheduled for July !
and is Thought Means Death knelI
to the Sport in State.
tBy Associated Press.)

WY ASSoCidteu fEtSSJ
SAN FRANCISCO. CAL, June ID
Stirred to action by insistent protests
from all parts of the state and coun
try, Governor James n. Gillett. today
took steps to prevent the champion
ship fight between James J. Jeffries
and Jack Johnson, scheduled to be
held in San Francisco on July 4th.
In a letter to Attorney General L.
S. Webb, the governor today express
ed his disapproval OF prize fighting in
unmeasured terms and directed that
The aid of the courts be invoked to
prevent the match. lie concluded with
a positive order that, in case the plea
for restraining order be not granted
and the fight be held the attorney gen
eral proceed to gather evidence and
prosecute the principals and those in
terested in the fight for violation of
the penal code of the state.
Sports Cast Down.
The governor declares that the
Supreme Court of California has new
er defined prize fight and suggests
that an opportunity be given it to do
so. This is taken by those interested
TO indicate the governors intention to
Iress his opposition to the end. While
the status of the fight is in an I'M
settled condition. tonight the sport
ing fraternity is much cast down and
il is generally believed that the death
knell of prize fighting in California
the mecca of prize fighters accord
ing TO the governors letter, has been
sounded
This belief is borne out by the fact
that the governor telegraphed to At
torney General Webb later in the day
to take similar action as TO the fight
scheduled for June Is, in San Fran
cisco between Sam Langford and AL
kaufman.
Believes Fight viii be Held.
Promoters Tex Richard and John
q eason said that they had heard no
shisper of the governors intended
action. When the news reached him.
Richard rushed to the office of At
tOrney General Web and asked what
that official purpOsed to do. After a
conference with Webb, Richard said
he believed that the fight would DC
held in san Francisco on the adver-
tised date, despite the governors
orders.
Richard has no intention of aban-
coming the effort to hold the fight
here Both he and Gleason devoted
much time today to conference with
their attorney, Herbert ChOynski The
course of legal defense decided on
probably will not be given out until
MIR. Webb has made a statement
Richard said Webb had promised
him hCr1nCn of hn Of
lerecting the arena and other matters
connected with the fight. that his opin-
ioB would be forthcoming without de-
~ Richard expects it within two
ssays. In the meantime Richard says
ne would prepare to take the fight to
Nevada or Utah. if compelled to leave
California.
Just what will be the nature OF legal
proceedings to be instituted by the at
torney general is not known. The
governors letter is positive in direct
'rg that the courts be asked to inter
Vene and urging a definition of prize
Fighting by the Supreme Court. For
this reasons it is believed that Mr..
Webb will apply for a writ of manda-
mus before the states highest tribun-
al, thus bringing all parties before
that body for a hearing and procur
ing temporary injunction. pending =
decision. By this step he would avoid
Celay. since the promoters would have
appeal II judgment we're rendered
against them.
When word OF the governors order
reached Ben Lomond. Jim Jenries rc-
fused TO believe H. The camp was
thrown into an uproar by the message.
Richard estimates that h. will lose
$4,000 II he is forced to take the
fght elsewhere.
Seeking a reason for the action Of
Governor Giilcti. following his repeat.
ed declaration that be did not belicvs
the hght could be prevented. and he
did not purpose 20 begin useless opyo-
sition. many think that pressure was
brought 10 bear on him from Washing
ton. that The states representatives
az the national capital have Informed
him tina; the holding Of the fight was
standing In the way Of san Francisco's
effort 70 procure the Panama Pacific
Exposition.