Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-18
THE BILKERS
DROP THE
IRISH NAMES
Negro, Jew, Italian and Slav Fight
ers Should Use Their Own
Names in Boxing Matches

The following little anvil story by
Charles ]. Meegan in New York
paper this morning hits the nail
squarely on the head:
Every sportsman likes square
deal. When you CON him and hand
him a fraud in any guise you earn
his contemplated you are sure to
get it. An Irish sportsman is no
better than any other, but his con-
tempt for a fraud or person who
hands him one is, l think, bit
deeper.
las an exponent of the art of self
defense-of boxing, of scientific
Nightingale Irishman stands head
and shoulders over all others. And
he is proud of it. Game to the very
heart, courageous, athletic by ma
ture, quick to think, quick to act,
an opponent worthy to meet, he al
ways has and always will stand
ready to pit his strength. skill and
courage against the best Of em.
Sportsmen know this, the world at
large knows it. 1t is history.
'Tis small wonder. then, that
when any local boxing or athletic
club announces contest in which a
Pat Dennis Nike or Jerry fig
ures there is certain to be a good at
tendance. The real thing is in
sight and sportsmen are willing,
ready and glad to pay to see the real
thing.
How often lately have these
sportsmen been 'bilked' right here
in our New York clubs. Boxing
bouts are advertised with principals
bearing Irish names. When the
principals climb into the ring and
are introduced as Pat So and So or
Mike So and So and you find they
are negroes, Italians, Greek, or
Slavs, doesn't 1t give you e. pain?
Don't you feel that you have been
bilked? Don't you at least expert
ence sort of a lemon taste?
Il know I do. My name may ex-
plain it in measure, but l know
many other good American-born
sportsmen who hate to hear a good
Celtic name slandered by having
second-rate negro, Italian, Greek or
Slav fighters masquerading under it.
Club managers sanctioning or
permitting this practice should take
a tip and make these fellows fight
under their own names or at least
names of their own nationalities.
ITO read of. Mcclure, Flynn,
McGovern, Sullivan, O'Brien or an
O'Flaherty going down to defeat in
a game where they are supposed to
be past masters is bad enough, but
to know that the defeated man is
in reality negro, 'dago,' Greek or
Slav masquerading under an Irish
name adds gall to the dose. Make
these dubs fight under their own
names. Don't let them borrow those
which have always appeared first in
ranks Of real athletes, real boxers,
real fighters.
"A man who will hide his true
identity in an athletic exhibition
would be prone to do it, too, If the
hand of the law were stretched out
to get him. This was instanced yes
terday when Justice Bowling, true
Celt that he is, compelled a prisoner,
Tony Ryan, to admit that his real
name was Antonio Varaina, and had
the court records changed accord
ingly.
'Unmask these men who are box
ing and fighting and competing in
athletic events under Irish names
to which they have no claim. Club
managers can make them change
their tactics, and it's up to them to
do it. The true sportsmen demand
1t. They must be needed or those
will reap the whirlwind.
Justice Victor Bowling has blazed
the way. Let's follow the trail"