Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-06-25
GOVERNOR WILL
NOT INTERFERE
Issues Statement Saying He
VIII Keep Hands
off
OFFICERS MUST ENFORCE LAW
If Gambling and Disorders Are
Not Suppressed He Will
Use Perogative,

After debating the question most of
yesterday, William c. Mcdonald short
ly after s o'clock last night, issued a
statement in which he deplores the
holding of the JOhnson-Flynn fight at
Las Vegas on July but with which
he declares there will be no interfer-
ence by himself or by the militia if the
officers of Las Vegas and of San
Miguel county enforce the laws now
on the statute books.
As it is written, the statement leads
TO the impression that the governor
feels himself without a law to stop
the contest so long as there is no gam
bling and no disorders which are dis
turbing to any of the residents Of the
state.
The statement in full is as follows:
AS early as the 9th of February at
a reception rendered to me by the citi-
zens of Las Vegas, l expressed my op-
ipOsitiCn to the then rumored John
ison-Flynn fight, The public press quot
Cd me correctly in the main as to my
stated opinion.
March 11th begun the first session
of the New Mexico state legislature.
Shortly after that two bills were intro
duced; one legalizing prize fights, the
other forbidding. The former passed
the House-both We're smothered in
the Senate committee.
On the 11th day of May the attorney
general Of New Mexico, the law officer
of the state, gave an opinion to the
district attorney of San Miguel coun-
ty bearing directly on the above men,
toned fight wherein he used the fol-
flowing language:
IF there We're no statutory defini.
tion whatever of what constitutes an
contend that the proposed fight would
be a violation of law than there is in
the presence of such a statute as the
one above quoted, but the legislature
having given this statutory definition,
it must be held that any other is eX-
cluded.
"If public sentiment is opposed to
these exhibitions, the remedy must be
supplied by the people through their
representatives in the Legislature by
way of distinct and unmistakable stat
utory prohibition
| On the 2Sth day Of May 7 sent spe-
cial message to the legislature request
ling if to take some action and closed
as follows:
1T seems to me, however, that the
circumstances now demand that some
action be taken Immediately to the
end that the citizens of New Mexico
may understand what the legislative
body represents in regard to the sub
sect herein mentioned. l, myself, real
izing to the full extent the obligation
oe my oath and my responsibility to
the people of New Mexico, do not hesi-
I tate to recommend that such action be
! taken as will surely prevent this prize
fight and so far as possible forever for
bid any such contest being held on
: New Mexico soil"
Neither House took any further ac-
tion than already mentioned.
n The fight promoters, backed and en-
o couraged by few citizens who SEEM
/. led to consider that they were beyond
the reach of the law. kept steadily on,
rresuming as | believe that there was
d no law to stop them. Were they justi-
i fed in that belief? The attorney gen.
eral said they were. The legislature
! said that there would be no more law
on the subject
J. The question now is: Does the situ-
d ation justify extraordinary exercise of
F. the power of the chief executive or
the state?
There are several questions involv-
ed in reaching a proper answer. The
chief is: Will the local authorities of
I. Las Vegas and San Miguel county en-.
force the laws of the state now on the
d statute books?
If they do this there will be no in
terference from me with the militia or
IOtherwise. Should they fail and con-
} dtions dangerous to the welfare of
o. the state as expressed in its laws, OF
n irtoerable to the lawabiding citizens
3 of San Miguel county occur, then all
is the power that can possibly be invok
II ed by the executive branch of our state
10 government will be used to suppress
ID and destroy the evil and vice attend
e ant upon the gathering together ol
X certain Objectionable factors, and the
t. state saved from the disgrace that al
H. good citizens should deplore.
The reused and shocked moral sense
re Of our people will never tolerate ol
permit such another mistake to be
r. made by the misled action of any local
tolity. Those who stand ever ready t
ok take advantage of a bad example anC
attempt to make rule Of an excep
,tion will do well to prove the con
q trary of this statement which follow!
- formerly in the Chicago Record-Heralt
= of June 16, 1912:
with these four bouts being plan
~ ned now and many more in the max
y ing Las Vegas sure is in right as fa
as the boxing game is concerned. Tn
law makers of New Mexico are he'll
y ing the cause of pugilism as much a
= possible and are paving the way TO
y future entertainments by passini
measures boosting the game. The les
y islators are making of New Mexico
y mecca for boxers and the men of tn