The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-08
0'Hl lNLON TALKS
 OF BOXING BILL
if the Poys Spar TubercuIosis
 Impos ibIe
,iRS. JEFFRIES' STATEMENT I
Says the BoiIermaker Will Meet John son In Eight Months and That Settles lt-Where Is
 Mir. Burns2
By LEEE THOMPSON.

By JEFF IHOMPSON,
 New York February 7.-What is the matter with our little fighters? Unless something is done pretty quick it seems certain that more than one of the world s championships will go back to England. First comes Jem Driscoll and in ten round bout makes Johnny Marto look like a preliminary fighter in a cheap show, and Owen Moran takes Harlem Tommy Murphy's measure with grace and ease. If these little titles are to be saved from the British lion something must be done.
 Perhaps the bill which Is to be intro- duced to the New York legislature to make boxing a compulsory part Of the public school curriculum will solve the difficulty. Dr. Philip O'Hanlon, coroner's s physician is the father of the bill, and his idea is not so much to preserve the titles as to knock out Kid Tuberculosis, who comes pretty near being all-round champion in certain parts of New York.
 Did you ever see a man of robust health-a man with real red blood in his veins-who objected to boXing?" asks Dr. OHanlon, by way of argument.
 No, sir!' he says, answering his own question. The only men who raise kick against boxing as a sport and as health ful exercise are those anaenlic men who would rather sit around and watch sew ing contest than to go out and breathe fresh air and enter into games that re- ouire the use of nerve and muscle. The whole-souled red-blooded men who are the backbone of our nation never object to boxing.
 Many of our great lawmakers and our Presidents have been admirers of the manly art, and if it is good enough for them it is certainly good enough for us. We expect to pass this bill, and l feel confident the minute we have boxing in ducted into our public schools as one of the regular courses the dreadful fa- talities of tuberculosis will decrease more than % per cent"
 pr. O'Hanlon has performed autopsies on no less than 1000 persons during his 15 years experience in New York, he says. Of the deaths from tuberculosis he says that 80 per cent of the victims contracted the disease from not knowing how to breathe.
 eve want no more of these chicken breasted, pale-face boys in our schools says Dr. O'Hanlon, and we have got to teach them how to breathe. You would be absolutely amazed to know how few of these schoolboys know how to take cal deep breath and expand their lungs. Many of them have never had their faces flushed from exercise that they took vel
 
 terest them, but believe they would all be interested in boxing
 Boxing is particularly good for the schoolboy, because they are compelled to breathe rapidly during the three minutes with the gloves. During the one minute Of rest they are naturally forced to take deep breaths That gives their lungs the chance for which they have always wait ed. It will make them healthy. A healthy body is no feeding ground for tubercu- losis."
 If this bill goes through. in few years New York may be expected to lick the world in the ring.
 The bout between Joe Cans and Young Erne, scheduled to take place at the Washington Sporting club of Philadelphia on February 10, has been called off owing to the illness of Cans. The latter is now confined to his room at the Gold field hotel, suffering from neuralgia of the heart and according to his physi- clan, 1t will be two weeks before the clever colored man will be able to talk fight again
 In skirmishing for a suitable opponent to take up the white mans cause, pro vided of course, that Jim Jeffries does not finally decide to tackle the negro champion, we are notified by Harry Con- noly Pollok, Harry Tuthill and few others who know something about box ing. not to overlook John Vudenich, Chilian, who Is right in our midst.
 The South American is a student, work ing his way through Columbia, and if he can be induced to enter the ring it is the intention of Harry Pollok to place him in the hands of a competent trainer and get him few bouts just to try him out before challenging Johnson.
 XTtr1o foh {c font md i0he pounds. He has been boxing with the best men of Columbia, and is fast knows a lot about the game and can hit hard enough to knock out Jefries. At least that is what they tell us.
 Where did Tommy Burns go after he got that beating from Jack Johnson? That is a question heard in many places. Little or nothing has been sent out by the ex-champion since December 26. Every body seems more worried than Tommy Maybe he Is still counting up that house he and Johnson pulled in Australia. That's a significant remark and brought about by the latest stories from the Antipodes. The story goes that not only was Tommy a principal in the battle, but that he was promoter as well. It is said that Tommy only used McIntosh's name in promoting the fight. that it was his money that was put up to guarantee the contest, and that he stood to lose only the amount he was to hand Johnson.
 Mrs James J. Jeffries says that her husband MT. James J.. will enter the ring and cross bats with Jack Johnson That settles 1t.
 The word of the other half of the house | usually does settle things, and Jeff is no exception
 l In a letter to the writer, a Frisco sport l says that he had talk with the wife of 1 the retired bolermaker, and that she said | Jim was going to fight and do so within 1 the next eight months.
 l Broadway, the old training ground of | Young Corbett has been warm in con- l gratulatons for the ever popular Den verite since he executed his great come : back last Saturday night by knocking | out the tough Harry Ferns in Il rounds l in New Orleans. When Ferns left here l for the battle there was many a sigh
 oH relief from the friends of "the kid'' down south, waiting, as they thought, for 1 his finish"
 For Harry Ferns is one of the toughest l boys TOW fighting around this city, and, although he has lost a decision or two i in bouts at the local clubs, he is a rug 1 ged rough house" fighter, who always 1 delight. the crowds by forcing the milling | at a fast clip, no matter how hard the