The San Francisco call., 1906-11-26
Organizations Are
Controlled by
City Officials
Use Transparent Cloak
to Conceal Their
Professionalism

The sum of $4,000. representing the
difference in the amount paid into the
city treasury by the promoters of pro-
fessional prizehghts in 1905 and 1906,
has become an object of curiosity on
the part of the Grand Jury. Last year,
with four clubs in the field and each
paying license of $780, the public
treasury was enriched to the extent
Of $500 by the art of the gladiator.
When the trust was evolved at the
beginning of the present year it
operated as one club, and the city
treasury profited only to the extent
of $1,000.
The idea of a fight trust had its
origin In the mind of Abe Ruef. That
it was made possible for four clubs
thus to hoodwink the city was also
due to Ruef If the city lost, it is
argued that some one gained. 1t is the
intention of the Grand Jury to clear
up this point
The so-called amateur clubs will
form the most interesting feature of
the Grand Jury investigation into the
fighting game. The fragrant violation
of the city law by which these clubs
were allowed to pose as amateur clubs
and pay license of 500 a year in
sional clubs will be the basis for the
inquiry. The only reason that has
been advanced for this state of affairs
is that city officials, past and present.
are the managers of these clubs or
are financially interested in them. In
fact, SO close is the relationship be-
tween the administration and the
amateur" clubs that a list of the di-
rectors reads like a roster of city Off
cials.
CHIEFS OF THE CLUBS
Former Police Commissioner O'Grady
is the moving spirit of the Central
Club; Daniel O'Leary. chief deputy in
the Auditors office, controls the Haw-
thorne Club; Marc Bolo of the Fire
Commission is the big mogul of the
California Club. and Morris Levy.
former secretary of the Board of
Works, is the major domo of the Cen
trail Club.
That these promoters Of amateur"
fights have become aware of the inten-
tions of the Grand Jury is evinced by
the hurried departure of Morris Levy
for Los Angeles. where he will confer
with Supervisor Sanderson, who had
charge for the Board of Supervisors
Of all matters relating to the fighting
game. Sanderson delegated a large
part of his authority to Ruef, and Ruef
turned it over to Morris Levy. In real
ity Levy appears to have been sort of
special ambassador accredited to the
city administration as the representa-
tive of the promoters of the pugilistic
contests.
Despite the continued violation of
the law by these amateur" clubs. they
receive their permits regularly. run
through weekly bouts and divide fat
profits.
~ between amateur and professional
clubs. Those are described as anna
tour which are sanctioned by the Pa
cifc Athletic Association, the organi-
z&t.7 which exercises control over all
amateur sports on the slope.
GOT THE GRAND BOUNCE
Last April. when scandal among
the SIX amateur" clubs brought out
the TACT that the amateur" performers
were paid in the same manner as the
professional men, the Pacific Athletic
Association determined to be rid of the
masquerading organizations and threw
them out. 1t was shown that these
organizations had simply used the Pa
cihc Athletic Association as a cloak
which enabled them to gain their per-
mits by paying 800 a year instead of
$1,000.
The more important of these clubs
are the Central, San Francisco, Haw-
thorne, California, Sunset and Occi-
dental. Harry Leap and Alexander
O'Grady, special attorney for the Board
of Supervisors and former Police Com
missioner, are the owners of the Cen
tral; Daniel Leary, chief deputy in the
Auditors office. controls the Haw-
thorne; Alex Greggains owns the San
Francisco Club; Mario Bolo of the Fire
Commission is the proprietor of tbe
California Club; Morris Levy, formerly
secretary of the Works Board runs
the Sunset, and Willus Britt manages
the Occidental.
When these clubs were cast out by
the Pacific Athletic Association they
formed an association of their own for
protection. That the purposes of the
combination were successful is appar-
ent. Though in direct violation of the
city ordinances the clubs have contin-
ued to flourish.