The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-02
Fakirs Are Heartily Roasted BY
Lanky Bob.
Fitz Says They Should All Be
Blacklisted.
THE GREED FOR GOLD.
Robs Most Pugilists Of Sense Of
Honor.
Everyone Connected with Fakes
Should Be Published.

New York, Jan. Robert Fitzsim-
mons, in a signed statement in the Jour-
nal. says:
These are sad days for the world OF
fstiana one by one the fields wherein
the boxer, the manager and the fight
club promoter reaped their harvests
have been laid waste BY the touch Of tie
reformer's hand.
New York. but recently the Mecca oe
the pugilistic fraternity, q veritable gold
mine for the gent with the padded
sfnitt,' then Chicago. and finally Phila-
delphia, have turned their backs upon
Ehe sport Of the squared circle.
And why has this come to pass?
'The answer is easy. Simply because
these modern gladietOrs could not OF
would not believe that a fighters best
stock in trade is to be on the level
Their greed for gold robbed them o.
their senses. Their one idea has been to
get the money Little heed did they pay
TO the manner Of the getting Nc trick
cry nor shameful schemes seemed to
them too low. provided it came arm in
arm with a goodly bunch OF Uncle sam ,
coin.
These would seem burning words for
mo to hurl at the heads of those Of my
own profession. They bring the blush OF
shame to my cheek as I write them, but
their truth cannot be denied OF course
there are fighters, both big and little, IN
suspicion has never been pointed. They
have walked the paths Of honesty IN
needing the temptations which may
have been cast in their way. To these
know I owe no apology. Where the
cap fits I offer none.
These latter, who plunged without
thought Of the aSterclap. Of the anger OF
an outraged public which they were
bringing down upon the heads of their
innocent fellOw-bOxers, into a c0ntinu-
ouS filthy Ehirl Of fakes -double-cross-
ing and robberies. are guilty parties
And it is these culprits who should be
made TO suffer.
Every fighter, every manager, every
club promoter. who has directly or indi-
recently been mixed upin a fake. throwna
night or robbed the public, should have
E1f8 name published broadcast as a thief
"a thing to be scOrned like the plague.
The newspapers of the country. which
are ever ready to encourage honest sport
End which viii stand shoulder to should
EN- and fight dishonesty, should publish
a. list from time to time Of the takers of
let those whose names appear in this
list be barred from every boxing club IN
che country, just as a dishonest jockey
or horse owner is barred from the priVi-
leses Of the race track
There would. of course, have to he
some reliable supervision OF ring AFFAIRS.
To insure this would advise that the
boxing be controlled by the state. Under
such supervision it would not be subject
TO the Whim of any local politician.
Promoters of sporting events who
have made world wide reputation should
be given sole control Of the club or clubs
au each city
"a certain percentage OF the receipts
of each fight should be turned over e
the state to pay such officials as might
be needed to see that matters are run
ION the level
No club manager should be allowed
20 be the manager, either directly or in
directly. Of any boxer
There il no doubt but that the pug
dlists should be weeded out, the good sep
4rated from the bad. OF course there are
plenty Of dishonest club managers. bur
IL the fighters were honest the club man
ayers would not have q chance to get in
any crooked work When everything IS
summed I'D there is only one hope for
fhe pugilistic game:
Blot out the takers and start anew .