The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-28
AN EDUCATIONAL FACTOR
Billy Woods Unique Theory of
s. Scientific Boxing.
WOULD MAKE MEN BETTER
Contests Between Gentlemen Would
Elevate the Moral Tone of the
Community, Even as wise
Mike" Did.

& When the Burke Brothers were con-
Quoting their famous college for the ed
-ucation of animals, and especially
Rocky mountain burros, they argued
that such education was one of the
greatest factors of civilization Their
theory was that an educated donkey
had more influence in the mental and
moral elevation Of ignorant humanity
than all the preaching and examples Of
refined men and women. The latter,
they argued, could not bring themselves
into position to make their influence felt
among the class of people who needed
it, while the educated burro, like the
famous Wise Mike, for instance, could
go among such crowds of men who fire.
..squent and almost live at the variety
stheaters, concert halls and other places
Of the like, and by his exhibition of
Wisdom and the mental possibilities of
>sthe brute and the dumb beast, and with
This example give encouragement to such
persons and hold out hope to them that
even they might improve their minds
and become better citizens
: It is probably on some such theory
that Billy Woods argues in favor of
government control and regulation of
r.pugilism, and the creation of a new
cabinet officer to be known as secretary
of sports, or the sporting secretary.
Billy, who is an educated pug and a
gentleman in the business, believes that
his~recent timely and learned article in
favor of national recognition of prize
fighting had much to do with influence
ing the legislature in behalf of the Cliff
ford boxing contest bill, and has written
another article along the same lines. 1t
is a gem in its way, and many people
WI will will 1n1,h irc; ct
that it should rank among the classics.
MraWoods writes as follows:
@Cliffords bill, permitting boxing
contests under certain conditions, that
was recommended by the house Satur-
days has been favorably discussed here.
Billy Woods, in talking with a Stand
ard reporter, said:
Il am glad to hear that the house. at
least, has endeavored to do one thing to
advance the interests of the miner and
the common working man. Such affairs
ispeaking of boxingl when conducted
under the auspices of a legitimate gem
tlemen's club tend in a great measure
ta-Aducate the ignorant and civilize the
brute. Especially the uneducated COM
mon working man comes home so tired
of serious application that unless he
overhears something that eXcites his
interest the papers are overlooked, he
wanders to the slums and spends his
money IN dissipation ana reVelry. Such
thing as a boxing contest between
competent men would be the first sub
ject to cause his interest in the news
papers. He reads, he learns; he reads
other matter too-in time the newspa-
per is thoroughly read by him-and he
becomes just as well informed as the
student He builds up a presentable
address and becomes citizen, capable
of appearing in private or public gath
erings to attend to his interests and the
welfare of his home. He attends a
contest. He sees how helpless he would
be in the hands of capable man. He
becomes orderly, if otherwise disposed,
and perhaps he learns how to use him
self. He surely will become a good
citizen then, unless he goes at it as a
business, in which case / cannot speak
for him. However, the evil is neces-
sary one, and before sending missions
aries to India 1 believe in enacting laws
that enable a gentleman to civilize the
heather he comes in contact with at
home. 1t is a sure method and the
statesmen of our land are commencing
to see it,