Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-26
Opinions Concerning the Battle Be-
tween Hall and Fitzsimmons
That Didn't Take Place.
EVILS OF THE SO-CAELED CLUBS.
The Generosity of Americans in Giving
Their Money to Foreign Pugil-
lists Who Land Here.
A PROPOSED NEW FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
ssnethtag About Contract Jumpers and the Leading
Features Of Baseball

Things are Just as uncertain in the sport
ing world as anywhere else, and those of
Us who take an interest in the sporting
affairs of life meet with very many sur
prises indeed A week ago we were all e1-
peoting to know before this morning who
would be the victor between Hall and
Fitzsimmons and, to be frank, dare say
none Of us for moment thought that the
men would not be allowed to enter the ring.
But the contest was prevented, and pre-
vented in way that makes il to some eK-
tent remarkable There may be some peo-
pie who now contend that they knew there
would be no contest, but 1 emphatically
contend that even q week ago there was
nothing to show that veto would be put
on the proposed encounter. But at any
rate the affair was prevented, and as a re-
suit We have for once been given to under
stand that these so-called athletic clubs are
simply ''not in it" when Uuncle Sam takes
hand. 1 am not at all sorry that the
affair was stopped, not at all because am
opposed to the principle of two men fight
ipg, but because l am opposed to this
athletic-club business. Ny readers must
know by this time my position on this
point, and l once more venture, even at the
risk of being tiresome, to aSSail these club
arranged contests. In all the history
Of pugilism or glove fighting the chapter
relating to the athletic club at ST. Paul
stands out prominently as being very unique.
Il affords good material for use by those
who are opposed TO these so-called clubs m
general. In the club in question we have
or7 i'm that u-ae founded no
other purpose than arranging fight be-
tween two foreigners, Hall and Fitzsim-
mons Tins very extraordinary fact is ad-
ritred By the officials of the club them
selves. OF course. had the contest gone on,
there would have been Others, but the
primary cause Of the organization Of that
club was 10 have fght between the two
men named. And the club built monster
pavilion IN which the contest could take
place ard in which the dollars of the Ameri-
can public could be raked. And according
10 the latest reports the club is to disband
because the law has asserted its supremacy
IL prohibiting glove contests or fights of
any kind in the clubs new building. Ger
ta;nlv the brief existence of the Minnesota
athletic Club has been very costly and
painful one to those who have had or Will
have to pay for the fun.
Those So-CaiIed Athletic Clubs.
In truth, am sorry for any man or any
body of men who lose as much money as
Tie few members Of the Minnesota Athletic
Club viii lose, but they have only them
selves TO blame. II their experience is a
lesson 10 others, something good will have
been accomplished, and as a result We will
have fewer of these gigantic frauds than we
have had recently. just allow me at this
iunctUre to define the cause of my opposi-
ton TO these clubs that exist for no other
Il L
contests. As q general rule they are COM
posed entirely of professional gamblers,
whose characters and antecedents are of the
most shady kind; men who are innatelv
opposed TO making an honest effort of any
kind TO work for a living; men who will
stoop 10 any trick or scheme to ilch
dollars from the public. Oh, yes, there are
exceptions but the rule is what say Well,
these men band themselves together TO do
what? Why to encourage and promote q
more degrading system of pugilism than the
kind that is deted 10 the remotest extent by
the law. The law stOutly and emphatically
prohibits the most manly style of pugilistio
encounrer-that of adiourning to some Sc
clUded spot on the turf and settling affairs
with natures weapons-and for years has
wiukeI at these brutal and, in many cases,
fraudulent glove encounters. And, mark
Won. scores Of men of the stamp of charac-
club affairs and some have grown rich on
the dollars gulled from the public. This has
al been done under the ewes and recognition
of the law. But If two meu choose TO retire
from public view to test their pugilistic
skill for even a small amount of money
down, the law would pOunce upon them and
have them in jail in very short order.
In short, when these fleeing clubs
have been allowed to conduct the
most brutal of contests and thereby flch
from the public thousands of dollars, an OBJ
scure fstic encounter for the matter of a $40
hill would not be allowed at all What 1
claim is this: An inconsistency of this kind
is absurd and il is unfair and this is the
main cause OF my opposition to these club
affairs. For the life of me, have always
been unable 10 see why there is any more
reason Tor the federation of fight to a fin
ish in 8 club, under Queensberry rules, than
there is for bare fist fight on the turf. OF
the two the former invariably is the most
brutal II there is not disposition to give
one system as much liberty as the other,
trust that they may be absolutely prohibited
from end TO end of the land.
Hall and Fitzsimmons.
Just as sure as we live the whole scheme
Of the Hall and Fitzsimmons affair was to
make money. The parties directly interest
ed in il are known throughout the country
rs men who won't have anything to do with
glove contests except they are winners un-
der any circumstances. And it seems
grange to me that two men should be i'm
ported TO come and carry of SO, 900 or S20,-
coo of our money. We know already that
Hall and Eitzsimmons have done ''busi-
Ees," before; that the latter has himself
told US how he clay down" to Hall for the
magnificent sum OF $50. And here we have
these same characters in our midst; charac-
tiers who have been induced to act dishon-
cstly and fraudulently for SIS contesting for
purses Of SO, 600 and SO on. Really it is q
wonder to me that every man in Australia
who can put up his hands at al is not in
the United States. Fitzsimmons in one
year can work his way from his native
heath 10 this country and the next year we
read o. his being robbed of his diamonds
and $1,000 in cash. l suppose the latter
was kept on hand for trivial expenses
Surely This must be the land of wealth for
the stranger, and I may add the land for
transforming the poor pugilist into man
ol wealth. 1 can somewhat picture in my
minds eye Mr.. Fitzsimmons in tattered at
tire at Melbourne pleading with the steam
snip officials to allow him TO work his pass |
age across" as he hadn't a penny in |
the world. And 1 can see him now with |
his diamond and big rolls of 500 bills. L |
wouldn't be surprised to hear of his buying |
@ steamship OF his own to return home with |
our money. Well, generosity is a very fine |
quality after all; DuJ it would seem very |
hard on Mr. Hall not to be allowed to get |
slice o. our surplus wealth. Jim was speci- |
ally imported here for the purpose and if 1 |
mistake not he didn't ''work" his way here |