Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-17
John LOOney. Promoter of Sports
and Regulator of Morals.

This is no disparagement of legiti-
mate sports. There never has been
an inclination on the part of The Ar
gus to create a contrary sentiment to
the encouragement of clean athletics
Pastimes of this nature are both help
fnl and healthful. The true sports
manship spirit has always been upheld
in these columns.
On the other hand anything of de-
grading nature or with tendency to-
ward rowdyism, which in effect low
ers a form of athletics in public es-
timation has been unhesitatingly con-
demned. This disposition on the part
of The Argus has been likewise true
of the gambling phase that is apt
if not checked, TO develop in all kinds
of competitive sports.
Two nights ago a series of bouts
were pulled off at the resort of John
Looney on his farm near Rock river.
under the auspices of the Black Hawk
Athletic club. of which he is the pro-
mOter. There was nothing particular
ly noteworthy or attractive in the
stunts. the event of the evening being
furnished by LoOney himself. who in
addition 10 being master of ceremOn-
les. finally took the place of the an
nounced opponent of a negro pugilist
in the ring. and in an exhibition finally
put the dusky defender Of the manly
art 10 the bad There is nothing in
this that need call for condemnation.
so long as those present received their
moneys worth in seeing LoOney
matched with a negro. What LOOney's
own tendency may be in this direction
is nobody's concern but his. He may
and should be privileged to indulge his
fancies TO his hearts content. He may
if ne feels so disposed pull off a pro
gram of dog fights and cock fights SO
long az he keeps within the pale of
the law-and the law has shown won
derful latitude in such cases. AS said
before the extent TO which one may
go in the qualification of a sportsman
ship spirit is largely matter of dis
position and temperament. Ii is one
of the indisputable privileges of the
American people that they shall be un;
hampered in their mode of personal en-
jOyment so long as they do not inter
fere with the rights of others.
There is in Rock Island a club which
numbers in its membership several
hundred of the most respected and
most representative citizens, not only
of Rock Island. but of the three cities.
For the mere qualification of grudge
against some of its members, LoOney
sought recently through process of
law to break that club up by the an
nulment Of it's charter. He did this
under the pretense of high moral
grounds, and incidentally he had him
self pictured as a paragon of virtue
and. indeed. the model citizen of the
community. He failed in his purpose
to demoTaliZe the club, although he
succeeded, because the club preferred
TO assume it rather than involve itself
in legal controversy, in placing upon
that institution an unnecessary bur
den. 1t proved a source of great glee
TO Looney to have accomplished even
this much in laying unwarranted hard
ship at the door of one of the most
worthy and deserving institutions in
the community. And yet there has
not been to the knowledge of The Ar
gus. a disposition on the part of the
club or its members to retaliate for
this wanton hostility on LOoneys part,
or 10 interfere with any enterprise with
which he may be identified. The mem
bcrs of the Rock Island Club apparently
much prefer to relegate the question of
determining how far the doings of
Looney's athletic club are kept within
the restrictions of the law 10 the prop
CT authorities.
But. after all is said. the members
of the Rock Island Club. who have
suffered some degree of persecution at
his hands, may be pardoned if they
demur TO the idea that a man who
measures his worth from a scientific
standpoint with a negro pugilist for
the edification of spectators, will sue
Cessfully pass muster as the self
anointed mentor in the regulation of
how far other people may enjoy them
selves or how the community may be
morally governed.