Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-17
Declares He Will Obey Cover
nor'S Instructions, That the
Law Is Ample, but Does Not
Reveal Character of Pro-
CeedingS
MAYOR MCCARTHY SIDES
WITH FIGHT PROMOTERS
nv Asaociated Press. J


SAN FRANCISCO, June 16-Governor
Webb invoking the arm OF the law to put
a quietus on the Jeffries-Johnson and
the Langford- Kaufman contests are gen.
orally regarded as a knockout blow to
the fight game in California. The issue,
however, is a matter for the court to
determine finally, and unless Promoters
Richard and Gleason conclude voluntari-
ly to abandon their plan of holding the
battle of the century" in this city II
may be several days, or longer, before
q definite solution of the chaotic question
regarding the scene of the championship
contest is reached.
Reno and Ely, New, and Salt Lake City
are the alternative localities now under
consideration.
MAYOR WITH PROMOTERS.
A vigorous struggle to defeat the gov
ernors attempt to stop the big fight is
in prospect, however. Mayor Mccarthy
will come to the rescue of the promoters,
he announced in a statement issued from
Chicago last night, and the latest an
nouncement from Promoter Gleason is
that the attorneys representing him and
Richard have advised them to go ahead
with their arrangements for holding the
contest in San Francisco. I'VE will act
on the advice of our lawyers" said Glea-
son early today. I'VE have not violated
the law in any way, nor do we intend to. "
Attorney General Webb, in a statement
issued late last night, pledges himself to
stop the contest. He says:
81 WILL STOP THE FIGHT"
1.-The letter of the governor is a positive
and peremptory command addressed TO
this office to prevent the Jeffries-Johnson
fight. The governor states that the facts,
as presented to him. show the fight. If
held, will be prize fight, and that prize
fights are prohibited by the laws of the
state.
This command the governor has the
right and power to make, and 1t is the
duty of this office to comply with It,
shall take such action as the law war
rants to prevent the fight. 1t is the right
of the office of the governor to COM
mand; it is the duty of this office to
obey. His instructions will be followed
to the letter
IT am not at liberty to state just the
stituted, but such action or actions as
may be necessary to accomplish the ends
desired by the governor will be brought.
MY final word in this matter is that I
am going to carry out the governors in
structions. 1 am going to stop the fight"
"A PRIZE FIGHT OK FAKE.
In a statement given out earlier in the
evening Mr.. Webb indicated the construc-
ton he would place on the Jeffries-John
son battle. which its proponents declare
will not be a prize fight but merely a
boxing contest, and therefore not in con-
flict with the state laws. The fact of
the matter is" declared the attorney gen.
eral, that If this contest is one in which
the contestants enter the ring with the
avowed intention Of knocking each other
out. to use fighting term, it is a prize
fight and against the law. If they do not
contemplate knocking each other out.
apprehend it is a fake and ought to be
stopped"
Whether Tex Richard will stand by
Gleason in contesting the governors or
ders has not yet been stated. The latest
word from Richard is that he will await
until the attorney generals careful ex-
animation of the law. He has been
promised a definite answer from that of
f1cial in three days. he says, as to
whether there is a possible chance of
holding the fight here. IF we can't fight
in San Francisco" he concluded, then
we will go to Reno or Ely, New, or to
Salt Lake City. Any of these cities will
welcome us with open arms"
When the disconcerting news was first