The record-union., 1898-12-02

ought to have done the same in the
election. but there is a vast difference
in the responsibility of one Of a couple
of hundred thousand and one of forty
or eighty.
WHEAT AND A MISTAKE.
Tulare Register: A good snany fig
urers are figuring that wheat can not
possibly be low any more, the worlds
supply is getting SO scarce. We will
keep our figures to ourself hereafter.
Eight or ten years ago we figured that
the end Of the century would see the
wheat grower facing a hungry world
with a steady upward tendency from
that time forward and prices to suit the
grower ever after. Our argument was
all right 1t was irrefragable. but the
wheat market got the bottom knocked
out of it just the same and the world
is not so very hungry yet.
OF PUGILISM.
Oakland Tribune: Pu-ilism is no
longer deserving Of the title of being a
manly art" In the days Of Tom Say
ers, Heenan and John L. Sullivan
gladiators who went into the ring with
the sole object of victory, so honorable
a title may not have been altogether
misapplied, but nowadays, when boxing
encounters simply serve as medium
for cold bloodedly robbing the public,
the game has gone into the gutter as
among the most unwholesome in the
dregs of our social life.
Those who have kept close watch
on the business say that for the past
half a dozen years there has scarcely
oh
board We do not have to look far,
though, to see the reason for this. I'm
til about a dozen years ago prize fight
ing was conducted on what may be
termed a low financial scale The men
who met in the ring were satisfied to
fight for purses Of from $3.50 to $500,
while for what, according to the pres
ent schedule. is called championship
meetings. ST 500 or $1,000 was consid-
cred a huge purse. Admission fees
were on a proportionate basis. So for a
seat being a maximum and rare charge.
Nowadays, though, the business has
assumed amazing proportions. Only
i'll the lower levels of pugdom can men
be found who are willing to fight for
$1,000, while in the championship class
the purses range from $4,000 to $40,-
0Up
With such enormous money in the
business it is easy to see what has
brought about the downfall Of the
game. The larger purses and higher
admission fees have been accompanied
by an added interest in the betting,
and on an encounter like the one that
occurred this week it Is no exaggera-
ton to say that fully a million dollars
was wa-ered. The temptation has
proved too great, especially in view of
the low moral instincts of the average
follower of the prize ring. Fight pro-
moters have appeared on the scene,
every pugilist of note has his manager,
and as these rat-witted sports see the
opportunity to make fortunes by hav-
ing an understanding as to the result
between the fighters of any particular
event, and betting their money accord
ingly, it is easy to see how the business
has become so corrupted that nova
days there is scarcely an encounter the
result of which is not prearranged.
The public, though, is awakening to
the exact condition Of affairs. It has
been suspicious for long time, and
fiascos such as the one of Tuesday
night have transformed suspicion into
certainty. The result will be poor at
tendances, diminished betting and
dearth of interest in projected matches.