The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-09-21

| ton ana say that the betting feature
IL the only trouble with the prize-fghts.
We believe that is not the "only trou-
BILE" hut. II II were, even that of
itself. with the betting element 1t at
tracts. Is enough. II we had our way
all the other things you mention as ac-
companied by betting would be stopped
it not divorced therefrom. How are
you on g,mblng? Win you say as
much? some of these games we think
are of such nature as to be capable
OF being freed from the bet. Concern
ing the prize-hghts we have grave
doubts.
BOXING CONTESTS"
We are amused and provoked at the
gentleness of your term Boxing Con-
tests" How mild the game becomes
when attacked. Until then IL Is prize
fighting" 1t is so advertised and so
reported through the columns OF all
the papers. We are told how they
fought like fiends": how "he received
81 right swing under the ear which
lifted him off his feet and sprawled
him face down IN the sawdust": how
both men stood the heavy punishment
well' and how an angry crowd in
vades the ring after the fight" SOME of
them prominent men," too, while "one
attorney shook his fist under the ref
eree's nose so as to almost freeze the
latter's blood" sullivan looked bad
yesterday. His eyes were swollen and
dark. his face was pulled and one of
his lipe looked trifie out of whack."
These expressions are all culled from
the Advertisers reports on the fights.
The evening papers are on par In
their write-ups with such as the fol-
lowing: "Welch's face looked like a
well-beaten steak. welch was bleed
ing freely and blood from his bleeding
nembers covered both fighters" with
the blood gushing from his nose and
mouth, both eyes almost closed, and
staggering helplessly around the ring,
the referee interfered to cpd the battle.
He had WEIGH bleeding continuously
and whenever an opening would come
his deadly right would go to the jaw"
Sullivan started his opponents nose
and mouth to bleeding and then dazed
him by a right to the jaw" But
enough
1t is all prize-fighting-until CON-
planned Of 1t reads in the papers like
that describing the fights in the Cor
bett-t',tzsimnons days. But after
complaint is made 1t Is nothing more
than an innocent boxing contest, which
the complainers should see in order that
they may know how really harmless it
is, and what a grave injustice they
are doing.
DEAD-LETTER IDEA.
81, oh 1ay
should be considered dead letter. We
do not think there are any United
States laws which should be considered
dead letters. Our main contention in
entering a protest against the contests
of this class is founded upon the fact
that violation of any Of the laws of
the United States reflects untold dis
credit upon the national government
itself We make our plea as strong as
possible in favor of the enforcement
OF all sections of the Edmunds law
as applied to our Territory. as well as
this especial act against prize-fghting.
INJURY TO THE REPUTATION OF
HAWAII.
There are few States In the Union
where such exhibitions as those against
which we protest would be permitted.
Are the respectable citizens of the is
lands willing to have the fair name of
the Territory taken out of the column
where high moral sentiment dominates
and placed in the same class with those
of our more backward and less civilized
regions? Very respectfully yours,
w. d. WEsTERVELT, Chairman.
G. ID. EDWARDS. Secretary.