El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-30
NJ DONALD PLANS
TO STOP FIGHT
Sends Special Message to
the Legislature; Many
Bills Passed.

Santa Fe, New Mexico. May 80
Governor Mcdonald has sent. a spec
ial message to the legislature this
afternoon asking that action be taken
on the prize fight to be pulled off az
Las Vegas on July 4th and urging
stringent anti-prizefight legislation. 1t
is believed that Gov. Mcdonald hav-
ing thus made known his unequivOcaI
opposition will take desperate steps to
stop the fight, if necessary sending
the mounted police to Las Vegas for
that purpose.
The Message.
The following is the governors mes
sage:
ITO the Honorable Z. c. de Baca,
President. and Members of the SEN
ate. First State Legislature, Santa
Fe, n. NJ:
Gentlemen: There is a subject now
being discussed by our people which is,
in my opinion, OF the greatest import
ance to the honor and good name Of
our state. Reports state that arrange
mentS are being made for prize fight
to be had near Las Vegas on the 18th
of July, 1912 Nearly every day we
see statements in the public press com
menting on and describing the situa-
ton as it appears TO be from day to
day
several months ago 1 expressed my
opinion in words that could not be
mistaken concerning this proposed
prize fight. The question in my mind
then and now is, what means can prop
erly be used to prevent this unseemly
contest on a day that should be de-
voted to other purposes than an exhi-
bitiOn which will inevitably bring dis
credit on our state and her people
NO matter how we may judge our
selves or excuse those who are respOns-
ible, we shall not be able to prevent
the country from judging US adversely
and through this judgment causing
serious injury to every good cause and
proper interest in New Mexico.
4 am informed that the attorney
general has given it as his opinion
that there is now no law on our statute
books by which this fight can be pre-
vented.
There are at present two bills be-
fore the senate. one prohibiting prize
fighting, and the other practically le-
CALLING it, for legalizinS is the word
which is generally used by people who
read the bill with a proper understand
ing of what such a contest as is per
mitted therein. viii actually be.
1T is not my purpose to interfere
too much with legislation pending be-
fore your honorable body, and I have
no desire to embarrass YOU in the
proper discharge of the important du-
ties that belong 50 the legislative
branch of our state government 1t
seems to me, however, that the circum-
stances now demand that some action
be taken Immediately to the end that
the citizens Of New Mexico may IN
derstand what the legislative body rep
resents in regard to the subject herein
mentioned.
Il myself. realizing to the full ex-
tent the obligation of my oath and my
responsibility to the people Of New
Mexico. do not hesitate to recommend
that such action be taken as viii sure
" prevent this prize fight and so far
as possible forever prevent and such
contest being held on New Mexico soil
4 am, gentlemen;
Respectfully yours,
t'TVm. C.. Mcdonald.
Governor Of New Mexico"
House Gets Down to Work.
The house IS down TO real work and
has passed 2 measures, most Of them
Of minor Importance. however. and not
forming a coherent legislative pro-
gram
in the senate. on the other hand, only
two bills were passed, but the start
was made on a coherent legislative
program to carry out the Republican
platform pledges. The four good roads
bills form part of that program and
include a half million dollar state bond
issue for good roads and authorization
for county good roads bond issues.
A stringent corrupt practices act
was introduced and viii be passed; the
general appropriation bill was intro
duced and makes for the closest econ
county and state offices was intro
duced and viii be passed by the Re
publican majority
The bin taking care Of the state and
county bonded indebtedness was signed
by the lieutenant governor and sent
to the governor. Senator Navarro in
troduced a libel act and also an act to
determine the boundaries between the
various counties.
High school Bill Passes.
The senate passed the important
measure providing for county high
schools and a bill to compel fiduclary
officers to publish regular financial
statements The house passed a Dill
giving mayors Of cities police judge
powers. a bill appropriating $4,000
for improvements on the RIO
Grande; an act providing Tor county
SURVEYS for assessment purposes and
an act to exempt new railroads and
industries from taxation for six years.