The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-06-23
THE STOPPING OF THE BIG
FIGHT"

disreputable corruption-moneer like
Lorfmer in the highest legislative
body In the land; 1t may enable q
private citizen like Roosevelt to stand
before kings; or 1t may even stop q
Prize hight. Neither Jehfries nor Join.
son confess any fear Of any Living
man. met with empty hands. But
10Th Of them have found themselves
NE helpless children when suddenly,
~ the turn OF affairs, whirled into the
sans Of politics.
There Il rejoicing among the good
people Ct the country because the
asht has been stopped. 50 far as Cal
Norma = concerned. No doubt ferv-
= orations have been delivered be.
fore now IN many places upon the
power OF Irresistible right; the tri-
unph Of decsncy. the reign Of bette,
morals. and 90 on. This is no pes
sanist's screed. but We are drm in
ths opinion that morality had very
Attle 70 do with the order that came
Unexpectedly from Governor Gillette.
The very fact that It was unexpected,
that the promoters were confident
thre would be no interference, and
that the public omcials were silent
= the face Of vehement protests BY
- better element. goes to show that
sGillett was not reached through his
devotion to the cause Of morality.
OF course he based his objection to
the light on that claim; but who
wouldn't under the circumstances?
The key to the whole situation is
the desire Of San Francisco to be se-
5lscted for the exposition with which
4 IS proposed to celebrate the open
nc Of the Panama canal. "A resolu-
tion designating San Francisco for
this fair Is before congress-. "A mem
IN OF the committee 0f the House
that has 1t under consideration tele-
graphed the president Of the San
Francisco chamber Of commerce that
the sentiment Of the country is SO
opposed to prize lighting that the
JeRries-Johnson match In San Fran
cisco would prejudice San Francisco's
oss.
The Southern Pacific railroad,
which . the government Of Californ-
=. regularly selecting the state Of
1cials. % concerned somewhat in this
exposition matter. It would mean
something to that company.
Il 10 more tnan ! coincidence that
Gillette. the nominal governor Of the
atate. should issue . letter forbidding
Ito tight. II he had scruples. he new
Q would have allowed the promoters
e the contest to 90 ahead and spend
$4,000 IA preparing for the match;
for It 10 plain that no one would risk
that muchsmoney On any venture un-
less given reasonably satisfactory as
surance that he would be allowed to
mt It through.
On one side ID the controversy over
the tight were ranged the church ele-
nent and all those citizens who are
nee to follow their loyalty to decency
= the abstract. On the other side
we're the sporting element; a consid-
erable number Of men respectable
otherwise but who greatly enjoy see
Ing one man maui another; and the
business interests Of San Francisco
that would profit by the influx OF a
tremendous crowd such as would
lave gone there to see the fight.
when the business interests Of that
city were asked, however. to choose
hetween the indirect proceeds Of the
sDrise light and the immensely great
10 benefits Of an exposition attract
- the whole United States and ex-
Sto1ding over a period Of months. the
u,ssstion was settled. All Gillette
sAaasto do was to announce the decis.
And he did 1t with all the show
sfssirtue that Is customary IN such
Galdser,ulrppastances.
ass# THE RATE BILL.