Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-02
OPPOSITION TO
BIG FIGHT TAKES
:, DEFINITE SHAPE
Death of Tommy Mccarthy
Furnished Theme of Many
Coast Pulpit Discourses Yes
terday-Petitions Going to the
Governor of California.
SAN FRANCISCO. Nav >.

t1J
Npposition to the Jeffries-Johnson
~ fight, following the death of
Tommy Mccarthy, the San
francisco pugilist. killed in a fight
with Owen Moran here early Saturday
morning, took form yesterday in a
Statewide movement of clergymen to
prevent the holding of the champion
ship fight on July 4. P~rize-fghting
was denounced from scores of pnlpits.
and in many instances a definite cam
paign was begun. A meeting of the
san Francisco Church Federation will
be held aud committees will be APP
pointed to carry the anti-fight agitation
to Governor Gillett. The pastors of all
the churches in the city have been
notified and it has been ~tacitly agreed
among the clergymen that the church
federation shall take the lead In the
movement.
At a special meeting of the congrega-
ton of the First Congregational Church
of Oakland resolutions were adopted
protesting against the fight. They will
be forwarded to Governor Gillett and
also Attorney-G General Webb.
In the First Methodist Church, within
a stones throw of Dreamland Rink,
where the Moran Mccarthy fight took
place. the Rev. Louis J.. Sawyer de-
nounced the management of the fight
as responsive for McCarthy's death.
and called upon his congregation to join
In a movement to prevent prizefights
In the State. The Rev. Robert j. REM
son, of st. Paul's Episcopal Church,
Geplored "the commercializing of what
should be q legitimate sport" and
pledged himself in his sermon to the
anti-prizefght movement.
Owen Moran. who Is out on bail
awaiting his arraignment for man.
slaughter. today sent 500 to a priest in
Marin County to say mass over the
dead youths body. The little fighter,
who has a wife and four children in
London. still is overcome with grief at
the tragic outcome of the contest. and
Is insistent In his denial that, he had
admitted the match was a "frame-up."
Sporting men here do not believe the
agitation against the Jeffries- Johnson
fight will interfere with the plans of the
promoters. Sam Berger and Jeffries
repeated today that they anticipated
little trouble. and at his camp at the
Cliff House Johnson made light of any
possible opposition.
SANTA CRUZ, Cal, May 2.-Strong
opposition to the holding of the Jeffries-
Johnson fight at Eneryville on July \
Twas evident among the representatives
of the churches here yesterday. The
Rev. j.. B. Orr. president of the Minis
terial Union. communicated with all the
pastors in the city and protests against
the big fight were heard in q dozen
pulpits.
An appeal will be sent to District
Attorney Donohue, of Alameda County.
In which E~meryville Is situated, calling
upon him to prevent the affair.
FRESNO, Cal, May 1.-The Minis
terial Union today will send a formal
protest to the district-attorney of AID
media County against the holding of the
Jeffries-Johnson fight on July 4. Sew
eral local pastors yesterday strongly
denounced the prize ring from their
pulpits.
SAN DIEGO, Cal, May 2.-The Rev.
Clarence J. Harris, pastor of the First
Unitarian Church, called on the clergy
men of this city to oppose pri2eighting
in the State yesterday.
1.-The prizefight is a degrading amuse-
ment," he said. and our State will
spare herself much censure when she
stops It. The death of q man in the
ring last week ought to awaken senti-
ment. Let San Diego and her churches
be heard from"