The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-21
TO PRESERVE THE NATION
Pugilism, if Under Governmental
Protection, Will Solve It.
WOODS UNIQUE THEORY
The Science" OF Sel.-Dsfense the One
Thing Necessary for an Ideal Civil
lization-The Fact That Man
so Is Killed Don't Count.

Billy Woods is a pugilist, a wrestler,
gentleman and a scholar. He is
also a philosopher and scientist of an
original and unique school, and a
statesman who advances a new thought
for the preservation of the republic and
to prevent the nation from sinking back
into barbarism. His title to all these
distinguishing designations will b.
quickly recognized by perusal and
study of the following article written
for the Standard by that eminent fistic
artist
The reason, for not inquiring into the
death of Tom Lansing, the middle
weight pugilist who was knocked out
about a month ago by John Root of
Chicago at Louisville, KY, as given by
Chief of Police Hanger Of that city, is
novel and advances theme for the
patrons of prize fights to debate upon.
II have no proof that Lansing's
death was. caused by blow said he.
land. besides, what would be the use?
Lansing was fighter-that was his
business-he was hurt while working at
his trade. Many similar cases have
been tried and all those who were ac-
cused were acquitted. | Go not think
any action is necessary.
After being knocked out, Lansing
fingered in an unconscious condition for
several weeks and died during a sur
gical operation to remove clot OF
blood from the brain. The writer be-
lieves that fact alone would save his
opponent in the prize fight from any
responsibility, for the reason that it is
known to medical science that clot
of blood upon the brain would produce
death unless removed successfully and
there is no medical faculty that could
show that Mr. Roots blow upon MI.
Lansing's jaw was the direct or in
direct cause of that eliot of blood being
upon Lansing's brain / also recall the
instance of the death of Miller, who
died under similar circumstances at
san Francisco in the winter of 1S93-94.
The post norton examination proved
that Miller had come to his death by a
clot Of blood upon his brain which, ac-
cording to the inquest was caused py
mental excitement. The sequel of TINS
is that there is an unWritten law that
pugilism will never be stopped, that
such affairs only tend to enhance the
science of self defense. and that the
more frequent such affairs occur the
more rapidly will the practice be rele-
gated to a legitimate school of scien-
tifc research of practical benefit to the
nation The thought is appalling to the
sensitive and tender feelings of those
who have a raysof human sympathy
and will make them shudder at the
thought of two thurman beings going
into the ring and trying to kill zone
another for the delectation of an audi
ence who pays for the exhibition with
money--some through purely scientific
research and some through morbid
curiosity 1t makes me shudder while
I write.s to realize it: yetfit is hard.
cold fact and the sooner the nation
realizes the truth and takes steps to
confine and regulate the practice of
that art to legal clinic under national
regime the sooner will civilization ad-
vance a step and the nations power be
enhanced. 1t would be about as SEN
sble for the nation to abolish the man
ufacturing of firearms and Warships
and the practice of military maneuvel
as it would be to utterly abolish the
practice of pugilism. 1t is a neces-
sary evil and relegate it to the brothels
and gaming crowds by prohibition and
| lawlessness advances and civilization
is retarded in her progress. 1t is APP
palling to think Of Professor Andre ano
| the many others who have evidently
given up their lives in the cold anG
| frozen north in the attempt to benefit
science indirectly and themselves di-
| rectly. yet their efforts are instructive
and a benefit to humanity and tend
| toward the advancement of civilization
| likewise the fighter holds his place
among the scientists and his trade viii
| yet be legalized and licensed. My rea-
| sons are plain to the sophisticated and
will before many years dawn upon the
nation. Respectfully.
| u IT 90