The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-29
Rules That May Destroy the
Sport of Fisticuffs on
This Coast.
IS THE UNION USELESS
Walter Watson, the Olympic Club
Instructor, Gives Some Timely
Warning.

While the committee appointed by the
Pacific Coast Amateur Athletic Associa-
ton is investigating certain charges that
have been preferred against members of
| clubs that compose the Pacific Association
rumor says that several prominent ath-
letes who have grown tired of being gov
erned by the strict laws of the Amateur
Athletic Union are how planning with
view of organizing an association which,
If perfected, will be known as the Pacific
Coast Amateur Athletic Association, with
headquarters in this City.
In other words, the disgruntled athletes
are anxious to "break away" from the A.
A. q. and establish an association on this
coast which will be governed by rules
more suitable to the wishes of "the home"
athletes than those of the union, which
are considered too exacting.
Apropos of the present athletic disturb
| ance, Walter Watson, the boxing in
structor of the Olympic Club, said:
LAS means of keeping the amateur
| athletes within bounds of clean athletics |
think that the rules of the amateur union
should be strictly enforced but l consider
| them rather too exacting. however, for the
| present time.
Several years ago the sportsmen of the
old country lEngland), who took much in
| terest In athletic sport of all kinds, deter
| mined to formulate scheme by which
they could segregate the rich from the
poor. Amateur clubs were organized and
| according to rules that were there estab-
lished sons of rich men only could afford
the honor of being mem bers. Mechanics,
| clerks, etc., were ostracised. Matters pro-
crossed smoothly for time, but when
amateur boxing tournaments were intro
duced the gentlemen sportsmen did not
take very kindly to nose bleeds' and
| black eyes, and as consequence the
| clubs had TO admit some of the clerks and
mechanics, who did not mind an occasional
| drubbing, to membership.
"The rivalry that sprung up among the
| clubs brought about demand for fistic
talent, and this occasioned the dissolution
| OF some OF the most prominent athletic
| organizations because the aristoerats did
not desire to affiliate with the so-called
| plebeian members.
THE athletic clubs subsequently became
! quite cosmopolitan, and amateur boxing
contests were looked upon as the great
feature of indoor sport.
! st was during the days of the select set,
when the sons of wealthy men composed
the athletic organizations, that the anna
teur rules were framed. and, with the ex-
ceptlon OF few changes, the same laws
! exist to-day. The rich young men did not
care fig for money, of course, and such a
thing as training expenses was not
dreamed Of Why, the proposition would
be considered outrageous.
when the hardy mechanics and other
true sportsmen who were not born with
| silver spoons in their mouths became
members of the clubs first-class exhibitions
of boxing were witnessed, but a general
objection was made from the beginning to
the rules that were made solely for those
gentieman-sportsmen who did not have to
work for d living.
1.-THE contestants in wrestling. boxing.
etc., grew tired of winning medals, and
many OF the most polished boxers refused
to appear before the clubs unless they were
allowed training expenses, which, under
the rules, they could not have.
"As previously stated. good boxers and
wrestlers could not be secured from the
ranks of the upper ten and when the
mechanics and clerks who were earning
small salaries withdrew from the clubs
membership gradually dwindled, and with
the exception OF those clubs that cater to
outdoor sports, such as running, walking,
ETC., there remain in old England very few
OF the once-famous amateur athletic organ
lzations under whose colors many great
boxing tournaments were held.
1T seems to me that the same condition
OF affairs is rapidly gaining a foothold in
this country. The young men who box
before the Olympic Club cannot afford to
train 1or month or so at their own ex-
pense just for the honor of being called
champions should they be SO fortunate as
to win $35 medal. With few exceptions
the lads who box are earning very small
salaries, and 1 am strongly of the opinion
that If the rules were changed so as to
allow the boys their training expenses
there would be better sport witnessed and
more general desire on the part of
sportsmen who fancy boxing to become
members of this grand club.
Boxing is unquestionably the most
interesting of all indoor sports, and iudg-
ing from the large gatherings at club en-
tertainments think there are many mem
bers who will coincide with me in the
statement that to strengthen the member
ship the club Should cater to the amateur
boxers, who are rapidly becoming dis
gusted with rules which were intended
only to govern gentlemen of means and
leisure"