Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-16
Protests Prove More Than
He Can Withstand.
California Governor Says He
Win Stop Big Fight.
Promoters and Fighters Can Hard.
" Believe Action Possible.


James N. Gillett took steps today Il
prevent the championship fight between
James j. Jeffries and Jack Johnson
scheduled to be held in San Francisco
on July 4. In letter today to Attor
ney General Y. S. Webb. the governo
expressed his disapproval of priZ,
fighting in unmeasured terms and di
rected that the aid of the courts be in
volted to prevent the match. He con-
cluded with a positive order that. ir
case the plea for a restraining order
be not granted and the fight be held
the attorney general proceed to gather
evidence and prosecute the principals
ard those interested in the fight for
violation of the penal code of the state
The letter declares that the supreme
court of California has not defined a
prize fight and suggests that an OPP
pOrtunity be given it to do so.
While the status of the fight Is in an
unsettled condition tonight, the sport
ing fraternity Is much cast down and
il Is generally believed that the knell
Of piIzc fighting In California 1.-THE
Mecca Of prize fighters" according ia
the Governors letter. has been sound
ed.
This belief is borne out by the fact
that the Governor telegraphed to At
torney General Webb later in the day
to take similar action as to the fight
scheduled for June Is in San Fran
cisco between Sam I.angford and AL
Kaufman
Promoters Tex Richard and John
Gleason said that they had heard no
whisper of the governors intended ac-
ton. When the news reached him,
Richard rushed to the office of Attor-
ney General Webb and asked what that
officer proposed to do. After a talk
with Webb. Richard said he believed
that the fight would be held in San
Francisco on the advertised date, de-
spite the governors orders.
Richard would not say what his
course of action would be until Webb
handed down an opinion. but he has
no intention of abandoning the effort to
hold the fight here.
Richard said Webb promised him.
because of the great expense of erect
ing the arena and other matters con-
nected with the fight, that his opinion
would be forthcoming without delay.
Richard expects 1t within two days.
just what will be the nature of the
legal proceedings to be instituted by
the attorney general is not known The
Governors letter is positive in direct
iEg that the courts be asked to inter-
venc and urging a definition of prize
fighting by the supreme court. For this
reason it is believed that Mr.. Webb will
apply for Il writ OF mandamus before
the states highest tribunal. thus
h ri vpersv all
for hearing and procuring tempo
rary Injunction. pending a decision BY
this step he would avoid delay since
the promoters would have to appeal if
judgment were rendered against them.
When the word of the Governors or
der reached Ben Lomond. Jim Jeffrcs
refused to believe 1t. The camp was
thrown into an uproar by the message.
Jeffries. however. declaring his dis
belief. retired to his cottage. and was
found there later sound asleep.
Richard estimates that he will lo.
$4,000 If he is forced to take the fight
elsewhere. He said he would consider
Reno and Ely. New, and Salt Lake
City. He Is said to favor the Utah CAP
ital.
Work on the arena which has pro-
crossed rapidly since it was started
about two weeks ago. was ordered sus-
pended temporarily when the action of
the Governor became known, but the
promoters did not say whether they
would extend this order. pending a
co,tr: decision.
Legal proceedings, il is believed will,
make no difference at the fighters
camps 1t is probable they will go on
with their training as though nothing
had happened, but the whole matter
Is In such a disturbed and unsettled
state tonight that it is hard to predict
what the next move of the interested,
parties will be
District Attorney Fickert, mention OF
whom Is made by the Governor in his
letter 10 the attorney general. displayed
some bitterness when asked for a state.
ment.
He said that tho Governor had
needed the clamor of the mob" and
maze satirlcai references to political
capital"
However. he concluded Il stil be-
heVe that the fight will be held here,
as the courts are more powerful than
the Governor"
SeSNHS Il TeuSO1 Tor the action of
GOV. Gillett. following the repeated
declaration that lie did not believe the
hight could he prevented. and that he
ana not purpose to begin useless oppo-
sit'on, many think that pressure was
brought to bear on him from Wash
ineton: that the states representatives
at the national capital informed him
that the fight was standing in the way
OF San Francisco's effort to procure
the Panama-Facifc exposition.
Governor Gillett's letetr to Attorney
General Webb. ordering the Johnson
Jeffries fight stopped was. in part, as
follows:
State of California. Executive Office,
Sacramento, June IA. 1910.
Hon. U. S. Webb. Attorney General.
san Francisco. Calf.
Dear Sir:
II desire to call your attention to a
So called prize fight to take place on
the Fourth of July. in the city OF San
Francisco between Jim Jeffries and
Jack johnson.
MANY complaints are made at this
office by prominent citizens of this
city requesting that some action be
4 fOCittaS sion