The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-16
.G|LLETT WOULD
prevent FIGHT
IN CALIFORNIA
CONTINUED from First page. J

UHLlIUNIVIH|
lcontinued from First page.l
the good days of pugilism in California
are over and that. even though the
Jeffries-Johnson fight be carried
through. the next session of the Legis-
lature will be forced TO go on record
as prohibiting bouts of more than
few rounds
In his letter to Attorney-General
Webb. Governor Gillet, after stating
that prize fighting has greatly increas-
cd and been tolerated in California,
until to-day our State is a Mecca
for prize-fghters, much to our dis
credit says: our people have the
right to demand that prize fighting
shall cease in this State, and 1t Will
~ our laws are enforced. especially
II our courts follow, the decisions of
the Supreme Courts of our sister
States in defining prize-fght To
show that the so-cailed sparring exhi-
bItions' held in this State under the
auspices of Incorporated athletic clubs
have not been sparring exhibitions, but
prize-fights, need but refer YOU to
the. files of our daily Newspapers
Points to Recent Fights.
The Governor thens calls attention to
two or three recent ones, mentioning
the Moran Mccarthy, the Nelson VOL
CAST and the Conley and Attell fights,
and then adds:
"If these contests were not prize
fights. then the historic battle between
Hcenan and Savers was not one
have no doubt that the coming contest
between Jenries and Johnson will be
a repetition OF the brutality mentioned
in the foregoing nights, 4only on
larger scale.
II sparring exhibitions. permitted by
our laws, make fights where men are
killed. beaten into insensibility and
their. faces cut into ribbons lawful
acts. then II Is time that the Legisla-
ture should interfere and make such
exhibitions felony. Such contests
are prize fights, not permitted By the
law. and should be punished such.
Those who are engaged In them are
prize fighters and make their living
by nshting each other for prizes or
rewards.
The whole business is demoraIizins
10 the youth OF our State. corrupts
public morals. is offensive TO the senses
OF a great majority of our citizens. and
should be abated as public nuisance
and the offenders punished.
IF the court. upon your petition. re-
fuses TO grant tie relief prared for
therein. and permits the parties inter-
ested 10 proceed advertised by them.
then ] desire you. on behalf OF the
people OF the State, TO gather all cvl-
deuce possible. and If the contest is
carried out as advertised and the par
ties hight for purse or for a reward.
and infiict upon each other bodily in
jury. then you are to cause the arrest
OF the principals and those interested
with them in promoting the fight and
try them on a felony charge for vlo-
Iatins section 412 of the Penal Code"
The Reason for 1t.
Washington, d. C. June i5.-The
move of the state authorities of CAL
ifornia TO stop the Jenres- Johnson
prize fight Is believed in Washington
TO have had its origin in telegram
which Representative Bennett, Repub-
lican. of New York. sent to William
r. Wheeler, president of the San Fran
cisco Chamber of Commerce, on May
20 The telegram was to the effect thai
The moral sentiment of the country
was SO opposed 10 the fight that unles:
II was prevented there was grave dan.
ger that Congress would take unfavor-
Rble action on the resolution now be
fore 1t naming San Francisco as tn,
place for holding the international
celebration of The opening of the Pan
ANA Canal. Mr. Bennett is memhe
of the Foreign Affairs Committee O
resolution under consideration
He recently received telegram from
San Francisco asking his support o
the resolution for the San Francisc,
fair. lie replied as above stated Whel
informed to-day that Governor Gille
had moved to call off the fight. Mr.. Ben
net was much sratified. He said
Prize fighting Is prohibited by LAY
In my State, and in most all State:
1'he sentiment OF the country is,
believe. strongly opposed to such exh!
bltions.',
In response to Mr.. Bennet's tele
gram. he received one from Mr.. Wheel
er, which said:
Please urge on your con,mitte
that the philosophical citizens pro
noting the San Francisco expositio
and people generally interested therei
son fight. Undoubtedly the preponde.
ating majority of our people are or
posed to the fight. 1t would be decit
ediy unjust to consider the latter prol
osition in connection with the former
The Foreign Affairs Committee wi
consider tomorrow the resolutions
San Francisco and New Orleans. ask
Ing for recognition for their propose
expeditions. In view OF the action
the California authorities on the pre-
posed prize fight, 1t is understood Nj
Bennett will favor San Francisco {
against New Orleans for the Panan
Canal celebration
broadway Startled.
New York, June 15.-Broadway wa
startled byt news from San Frar
cisco. but the assumption that til
a. I - -,