Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-26

play for the pennant While this may
sound plausible enough it is not iair, be-
cause it would be making the winner of the
pennant contest twice for it While 1t m ay
be true that the McDonalds, for instance,
have secured several victories because of
the non-appearance Of other clubs, there is
nothing to show that they wouldn't have
won had those clubs been there. Besides,
the present pennant winners have beaten
the other leaders. But no rule has been
violated, and as long as that is the case it
will be useless to talk about playing again
for the present pennant. The season has
proven one thing, viz: that good Associa-
tion football league can be established in
this section. There are plenty OF players,
and good ones. What is needed is for rep
resentatives of the various clubs to meet in
good time this year, and have the best possi-
BILE arrangements made for q league next
tall. Beside this 1t might be wise to have
a special team made up of the best players
In the district to 60 and do battle with the
Association teams of Chicago and st. Louis.
If this were done it would cause greater in
terest than ever. Before leaving this sub
ject let me say that the league has in George
Macpherson an able Secretary. He has
worked hard and faithfully during the sea-
son, and believe that to him is due much
OF the success of the league.
Fitzsimmons and Hall.
According to report, Fitzsimmons and Jim
Hall, the two Australians, have been
matched, or, rather, have agreed to fight
with gloves at Minneapolis for reputed
purse of $4,000. In the light of recent
events and utterances of FItzsimmons, this
is somewhat of a surprise to me, and, to
speak frankly on the matter, I am not very
tn no of 10
OF course have an idea that Fitzsimmons
will win, but if it is true that $12, 900 are to
be offered to the men to fight for, and that
the arrangements have been made by
"Parson" Davies and Mr.. Clarke, there is
little to prevent one from coming to the con-
clusion that the $12, 900 will be split up in
shares. Whether this may be true or not,
there are facts which would lead US to be-
lieve that it will be so. Let me relate facts
which l know to be facts. When Fitzsim-
mons was here he distinctly stated in my
hearing that he would put up forfeit to
fight Smith at 154 pounds. He knew the
Smith party meant business, and he had to
make some definite move or statement. But
he never put up the forfeit, and it soon
transplred that the forfeit" notion was
simply a little scheme to allow him
10 get out of the city without being
shamed. But he also said in my hearing
that ne would not fight Smith or ANYBODY
else above 154 pounds. and he also urged
Smiths backer to match his man against
Hall. Amid all this the Smith party
offered to bet 81, 800, in addition to anv
purse thst might be offered. Now after all
this, isn't it surprising to find Fitzsimmons
in Chicago agreeing to fight Hall at 156
pounds, or two pounds heavier than what
Smith agreed to fight him at? We cannot
very well come to any other conclusion than
the go between the two Australians is a
business "go," or that Fitzslmmons rates
Smith as a very dangerous man. It must
be one or the other. But 1 heard Fitzsim-
mons say that he would not under any cir
cumstances back himself for cent against
Smith. and that he would only fight for a
"fat' purse. Well, then, ! may not be
wide of the mark when 1 say that Fitzsim-
mons shirked match here that was to be on
its merits, the winner to take all,
to make arrangements for q contest
that on the face OF it is much
a business transaction. It seems to me that
Messrs Fitzsimmons and Hall, or at least
those very "enterprising" and scheming
managers who have them in charge have
worked them very well. Fitzsimmons has
been travelling from the Atlantic noising
forth his opinions and threats regarding
the Pacific noising similarly about Fitz-
simmons. Now they meet in Chicago, and
as a result there is a great hurrah and
S12, 900 purse offered. That is good business,
no doubt of it. From business point of
view probably Fitzsimmons is only doing
what others would do, but it only shows
that the great object Of modern pugilism is
to gull the public.
Championship Claims.
But sooner or later there must be some
thing definite done about the holding of q
championship title. The title of champion
is gradually descending into a farce The
time was when q man who won the title and
who wanted to retain it was compelled to
defend it against the FIRST man who put up
reasonable stake, say $3.50, rarely $500, and
about only once 81, 900. The champion, of
course, was allowed plenty of time to get
ready, but he was compelled to defend his
title or relinquish it Then the title was
worth something, as far as pugilism was
concerned, because man who held it could
be looked upon as being really the superior
of anybody else his weight. But that is not
the custom now. Under the present rule
man may by mere accident or otherwise
win championship battle, and he will then
pose before the world as champion for II or
"a months, or maybe lifetime without
agreeing to fight anybody else All he
need do is to state that he has Ten
gagements" ahead and cannot en-
gage to fight anybody until they
are fulfilled. And even if he does finally
resolve to meet an opponent he pleases
himself as to who the opponent shall be-
The fnt challenger has no more claim than
the last and at that rate it is possible for the
best pugilist who ever lived to never have a
chance at all to fight for the championship.
If this is not outrageous I do not know
what is, and at best ii only reduces the title
of champion to worthless degree. What
is needed is that some definite conditions be
formulated and agreed on by sufficient
number of representative men and author
ities Then these conditions should be
adopted and strictly adhered to SO that
every aspirant for championship honors in
any class who could find a reasonable
amount of backing should have a fair
chance 10 win the title. No fair-minded
man can we'll object ito suggestion of this
kind, because as long as things go on as
they are going it is nonsense to acknowledge
Fitzsimmons as the champion.
PRINGLH.