Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-11

cial vice and the saloon. do not as
sumo the role of an impractical vision
airy in reference to these matters, but
shall show that the authorities are not
doing what they can to curb these in
sidious evils, but rather are throwing
around them all the needed protection
of the city SO that they can run with
all the assurance they desire and do
all in their power to corrupt our youth
with the sanction of the authorities. Il
My closing discourses will be a dis
cussion of the underlying principles
touching these conditions, with certain
inquiries as to possible methods Of rid
ding our city OF this curse.
And now lest some should go away
with the idea that these promises are
only as much pulpit gas, let me Illus
trate what mean by turning the light
upon one institution that has only re-
Gently been permitted to lift Its hideous
head In our midst. mean the prize
fight.
Under the Ban.
/ need not inform anyone of intelli-
gence that the prize fight is under the
ban in every state in the union, that
it is not permitted except in the most
degraded cities in the country. Even
+, as corrupt city as Chicago is sup
posed to be it cannot endure this thing
Indeed let me emphasize the fact
| that Ottumwa Is the only city north of
Hot Springs, Arkansas. and east of
Butte, Montana, that can openly pull
| off ten-round prize fight. hope we
all appreciate our pre-eminence.
| Assuming that some in my congre-
cation are not perfectly familiar with
the manner in which these contests are
conducted let me turn the light for a
moment on the Grand opera house of
our city. On the occasion of which
speak you would be met at the door
by member of the police force, the
night desk sergeant, who relieves you
of your ticket. Two other members of
! the same illustrious force keep the
crowds orderly at the door. Paying
| your dollar for your seats you wait
| developments.
At 8:15 the curtain rings UP and you
are given a view of the stage which is
/ to be the center of the attraction for
the evening. There is the conventional
ring roped off in the center. On one
side are the tables for the reporters
for this thing must not be done in a
corner. On the opposite side of the
ring are arranged rows of chairs for
the guests of honor, suppose.
i Licensed Prostitutes.
i On the back row sits a bevy Of the
city's licensed prostitutes, with their
equally brazen partners in sin. On this
front row sits group of the
city's licensed gamblers. jim
Meecham, Herm Davis, Frank Err
bacher and others of that ilk
while radiant and smiling sits in the
center of this nondescript his honor
our mayor.
4 The program is in the hands Of the
brother of the chief of police of the
/ city. The first bout consists of six
round contest between local barber
4 and local coal miner. 1t is said te
have been more vigorous than scienti-
fic. Following this two negroes put ur
4 a contest but 1t is too slow to crafty
the eager taste of the audience anc
they are Kissed off the stage. Their
the event Of the evening is called
which consists of a ten-round fight by
the stars of the evening.
i This is the Limit"
), Now think of that a moment There
II are cities that have been lax in theil
administration so that such a contest
J, might be pulled off without the knowl-
edge of the police, but those cities
are few in number. There is a still
smaller number where the same thins
can be done with the tacit assent O.
the authorities who turn their blinc
[ to such kindly disposed gentlemen
/ But I ask you where has it ever beer
j recorded that prize fight, which i.
clearly illegal, in which every person
:, aiding or abetting could be indicted
, could be pulled off under the sanction
and in the very presence of the me1
elected by their fellow citizens to exc
cute the laws? AS Thomas F. Lawson
: says of Gas Addicks of Delaware, He
the limit I insist that this is tn,
limit.
II i