New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-06-17
pBIZEFIGHT AND FAIR.

California IS TO be congratulated Oh
having n Governor capable of recoSnlz-
ing, though rather late in the day, the
injury done to the state by the dubious
policy of countenancing the demorallz-
ing exhibitions which pass nowadays as
prizefghts. Technically, those contests
are classified as boxing matches. but IN
reality they differ from the old-fas hioned
fights to a finish of the prizering only
in being intensely commercialized. Inc
encounter between the two principals Is q
necessary incident in the prosecution OF
q highly speculative enterprise. But the
promoters and fighters are more con-
cerned about the profits to be made di-
rectly and indirectly through the exhibit
ton than they are about its conformity
to oldtime notions of what was what
in the realm Of pugilistic sport The
public has naturally become suspicious
of the genuineness of contests in which
there is so great an incentive TO hippo
droming'' and to the collusive appor-
tionment of swollen gate and moving
picture privilege receipts.
Governor Gillett has invoked the Cali
to stop an encounter which, If Ii is not
a prizefght, is only an imposition prac-
tised on credulous public. He realizes
the shortsightedness of the wide open"
attitude advocated by the Mayor Of San
Francisco The Mayor and other local
defenders of priZefighting argue that
these exhibitions bring easy money"
into the community which tolerates them.
Undoubtedly they do; but such a COM
munity pays dearly for that easy
money in a loss of status in the eyes
of the country at large. Such laXity sug-
gests more or less civil responsibility,
and when city in which priZetighting
or public gambling is officially tolerated
asks some special considerable from the
rest Of the country the fact Of such toll
Grafton rises 10 embarrass 1t.
Two cities have been urging Congress
10 support them in holding an exposition
to celebrate the completion of the Pan
anna Canal q few years hence. Both
have been handicapped by records of I'M
wise tolerance of enterprises barred else
where. New Orleans has long sheltered
the winter racetrack gambling, and pub
lie opinion there is now waking up 10
the fact that the tracks have been q
burden. not benefit. to the community.
San Francisco has been the centre of the
prizefghing industry, and Californians
now find that wide prejudice would
exist against giving government aid to
ali exposition held in community which
was officially made TO appear SO out Of
touch with the sentiment on that point
of the rest of the country
The House Committee on Foreign At
fairs yesterday reported favorably two
resolutions asking foreign governments
10 participate in expositionS to be held
in 1915 in New Orleans and San Fran
cisco. The House will choose between
them SO far as San Francisco's chances
of securing final approval as the site for
the Panama fair are concerned, Gov
ernor Gillett's ban on the Jeffries John
son fight ought Ito prove most helpful
The best place for fair celebrating the
union Of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
is on the Pacific. and San Francisco is
the most eligible city on that coast.
Historically and otherwise. it is the
chief port on the Western ocean. and
by reason of its situation, its climate
and its resources is well qualified to
conduct a successful interna tional ex-
hibitiOn- Now that it is about to be rid
of the priZefght nuisance. it should find
less difficulty in convincing Congress Of
its eminent suita bility as Panama ex-
position site.