The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-17
ACTION OF GOVERNOR
COSTLY TO OTHERS
Late Decision Against California Works Harm TO limo
cent Parties-How Far Will Congress Go In Club
bng State Executives?
By THOMAS S. RICE.

The sudden change of front By Gov
ernor Ghlett. of California, in regard
10 the James J. Jeffries-Jack Johnson
heavyweight boxing match scheduled
for July afternoon in san Francisco.
is one OF the remarkable and pitiful
exhibitions Of playing politics ever Civ
en- by The highest official OF an Ameri-
can Commonwealth.
When the governor was in the East
trying 20 get a Congressional appropria-
ton for an international exhibition at
san Francisco to celebrate the opening
OF the Panama Canal he came out fat
footed with statements that there was
no legal reason TO say that Jeffries
and Johnson intended 10 violate the
law OF California. When be got home
and was quoted in an interview which
somewhat resembled his recent letter
TO the attorney general OF the State,
it was predicted that the interview
would be denied as utterly preposter-
Gus because Of his previously published
opinions. The interview was denied.
as predicted, only 10 have the governor
come back into the open with a course
which made his vacillations and playing
to the galleries more petty and less
manly Ildn DeIoEe.
Legitimate Objections.
TIE particular fight between Jeffries
and Johnson IS not the point as far as
the governor IS concerned. The issue
is the peculiar standard he has set for
public officials who deliberately use the
enterprises Of others for the advance
ment Of their political careers. regard
less Of vested rights that may have ac-
crued because of their previous sup
port.
The Jefries-Johnson bout was never
desirable. The race angle involved made
IL unsavOTy to a large section o. the
country, as do all fights where a white
MAI is pitted against a negro. There
has been much legitimate objection 70
the bout on this ground. Also. from
the very first he tactics OF the promo
tiers, managers, and fighters have not
been such as 70 inspire confidence. There
has been palpahle cnlnring OF reports
about the work in training. The I'm
mense sum involved in the picture privi-
lege. and the fight conditions Of San
Francisco, together with the charges OF
frame-up between Owen Moran and
Tommy Mccarthy in the fight in which
Mccarthy was killed, have all brought
II about. that shreWd bettOrs have hung
on and very little real money has been
Wagered- Il has been the mos. unat-
tractive speculation ever Offered in
America
Exposition Club Fails.
All Of these are legitimate kicks
against the holding OF the battle.
which Will make its passing no occa-
sion for overwhelming grief, but Gov
ernOr Ginett has not gone into such
phases He row comes out on the
highly moral ground that the fight Is
against the laws made and provided
for the Eovernance OF sparring ex-
hlbitonS IN his State His impelIinZ
motive IN assuming his lofty tone
seems 70 be that the fight may give
san francisco and California a black
eve IN the matter Of getting Con-
gressionsl appreciation for the expo
sitiou.
In other words. in order 10 ward of
the supposed Calamity which would
befau his career as governor in not
has chosen absolutely TO reverse him
self and md a horrid wrong. a blot
on the name Of the State. where be-
fore ,. could detect nothing Illegal
and refused 70 interfere.
Innocent Sufferers.
Were It merely the matter Of nut
ting the ban on the bout, the case
would be bad enough, from an ethical
standpoint apart from demonstrating
that California has a chameleon gov
ernor, but his tactics have caused