The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-10
Wanghfon' Pug Gossip

San Francisco. June 9.-Since the con fession of Jack O'Brien made 1t evident that there Is more crookedness In the boxing game than Is dreampt of in the average critics philosophy. many plans have been suggested looking to the puri- fication of the sport of the glove. From the number of marked papers and perso- nal letters I have received I can plainly see that the necessity for formulating plans for safeguarding pugilism occurred to many scribes about the same time. More than one critic of my acquaintance framed faker-proof rules and waxed proud in the conviction that if his ideas are adopted there will be nothing for wrongdoers to confess in future.
 One young man has suggested the plac- ing of large forfeits by everybody con- nected with Ia boxing bout. from the pro- moter clear through to the referee, and the handing out of something in the na- ture of rain checks to ticket purchasers. This latter so that if fight should turn out bad the patrons will have the privi- lege of attending the next one free of charge.
 The same young man, and he has evil dently taken pains In preparing his rules, thinks that every contest should be sched- uled for ten rounds, with the understand ing that the referee is empowered to order additional rounds if no winner ap- pears before the tenth round Is com pleted. By this course he thinks the fighters would be kept as alert as a couple of pigeon slayers shooting freeze out, and that each would feel that to miss with both barrels in an added round would mean defeat.
 Many other schemes have been sub mitted to me, most of them having some thing to commend them, and in adiuon have been asked to say what my own views are in regard to general move- ment toward the betterment of ring sport I can only repeat what l have said at different times during the past twenty years. to-wit: That the best way to insure honest sport and protection to the public Is to have boxing controlled and officered just as baseball Is.
 I am free to confess that the difficult ties in bringing about such a condition are almost insurmountable at present. Boxing is countenanced in some places and forbidden in others and 1t is too much to expect that a governing body In Chicago say. would give time and thought to the control of sport that is active only on the Pacific coast.
 Until boxing is removed of all stigma and Is permitted throughout the United States, the best way. in my opinion, would be for properly organized clubs to take the helm at different points and deal with local conditions as they exist. By properly organized clubs I mean af- fairs like the old California Athletic club, not concerns headed by individual pro- motors who are backed up by dummy boards of directors. Such clubs could con trol the six-round game of Philadelphia. the twenty-round industry of California or the finish fights of Nevada.
 These clubs. like the old California. again should be officered by gentlemen. whose interest in pugilism simply grows out of their partiality for the sport and WHO have no desire to profit financially by the work of the ring men.
 There should be club referees, several of them, just as there are league um- pires, and 1t goes without saying. al- most, that these judges of things fistic would know that their tenure of office,