The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-05
WRESTLING.
Hugh Leonard's Plan for an Association
to Weed out Fading Grapplers.

Many suggestions have becu made with
the idea OF bringing about reform In wrest-
Ing that will help to perpetuute the sport
and weed out INSCRIPTIONS persons. The
latest comes from Hugh Leonard wrestling
Instructor Of the New York A. G.. who sug
gests the starting OF an association similar
to the one in England He thinks that If
this is done the taxing grappler will be placed
lust where he belongs and that there viii
be few dishonest matches in the future.
Leonard knows great deal about wrestling.
having had more than twenty years experience
both as principal and teacher.
The association | have in mind is nothing
more than an organization started Tor the
purpose OF regulating the sport and placing
II on a sound footing. said Leonard 10 The
suN reporter This association should be
composed OF body Of reputable men, thor
oughly acquainted with the business. They
need not necessarily be wrestlers themselves.
but they should at least know something a bout
the exercise 1t would not be difficult task
to get these men together. There ara plenty
of them all over the country who would gladly
act and gratis, too The first thing the ASSOC
citation should do after il has been organized
is TO weed out all the taking wrestlers and
let them take up some other profession
Make them understand that they are not
wanted and the quicker they get out the
better for all concerned.
The public must be protected Whenever
a wrestler is accused OF participating %
suspicious bout in England the contest IS
probed 10 the very core. and If there is any
thing wrong the NronRdoer II quickly pun
iRhed he Is barred from engaging IN any
contest Ia public and has TO make his living
some other way. IN" association ] suggest
should have branches ia every principal
city in the United States with a president
and a secretary. Inc Amateur Athletic
I Mon regulates Wrestlinga among the amateurs
and has no trouble IN keeping the boys In
line Why should not the same conditions
prevail among the professionals
The public viii attend wrestling bouts.
rs was proved in the recent matches between
Piening and Eceherg, these contests drew
crowded houses II man ia not NJ and well
he should not be allowed to 10 on. II there
is the least suspicion as 10 his honesty he
should be barred and me ostraCism made
permanent An association cyuld attend
10 this aud inform the patrons OF the pastime
through the newspapers the reason why
the man was blacklisted This would have
the effect OF putting every one wise, and
convincing those who support tho game that
the association is thoroughly in earnest about
assured that he cannot deceive the public
he will be compelled 70 be honest.
rhe mot step tn ASSOCIATION should take
Leonard thinks, would be 10 place ban on
bout. In theatres IN conjunction with theatri-
cal performances. Usually managers en-
gage wrestlers OF reputation or with a local
aid in Increasing the box ONCE receipts
Sometimes the grappler works on perennial e
basis. or else ne pffIOrfnAI Of 4 certain salary.
Unless business is exceptionally good the
knight OF the mat does not earn much by
percentage And as for the salary part, II
is not often large. Some Wrestlers have to
pay those who meet them in a bout of fifteen
minutes ont of their own pockets Occasion
ally the management compensates tho com
ers but not often. Even II the conner
succeeds in staying the time limit he does not
get anything near the $50 or 500 advertised
Opponents can he had for - n head and
sometimes for less Then there is another item
10 consider the payment Of tho wrestler's
partner who appears with him at tho matt
nees or when there are no Corners for the
star grappler 10 meet Under these cir
c1imHtances not one Of the bouts can he on
tho level for n good wrestler would not go
on for the money offered and the manage
ment could not AFFORD TO pay for clever
man 5 services All these bouts are naturally
exhibitions and serve to Keep a man In CON
diton aud make little money. But the
evils OF these contests are great. In the
first place they tempt ambitious wrestlers
10 fake because when they receive chance
10 appear thcy are compelled 20 do as the
star bids them The star knows that unless
he cnn throw his man his powers ms a drawing
card viii suffer an unless the conner lays
down or leaves himself open 10 a good hold
he viii not get n cent for his services. or
course there are exceptions. but the practice
is general all over the country