The Washington herald., 1910-07-14

New York, July 1S-Col. Roosevelt has
written this piece for next Saturdays
Outlook:
7 have always been fond of boxing and
have always believed in it as a vigorous.
manly pastime. one of those pastimes
which have a distinct moral and ply
sical value because they encourage such
essential virtues as courage, hardihood.
endurance, and self-eontroi. Until within
few years I used to box a good deal
myself aud when I was young several
times took part in contests OF a public
or semi-publk nature-generally. I am
bound TO say. with I'll success
I think boxing is a sport which should
be encouraged among boys and young
men generally. have been glad to help
It so FAR as I could in the army and
navy. where, I believe. it has been an
excellent thing for the enlisted men.
When I was police commissioner I was
much struck by a statement made to me
by Jacob Riis 10 the effect that the es-
tablishment OF boxing clubs in many OF
the poorer districts had resulted in good
in rather unexpected ways; that is. It
had not only given the vigorous young
fellows who otherwise would join gangs
a legitimate outlet for their activities,
but had also markedly reduced the num-
Der OF ARRAYS in which the knife was
used. The spirit produced by the boxing
had told against knife fighting and dis
tinctly discouraged unfair play.
Boxing as IA Sport,
Therefore, from every standpoint.
believe In ule encouragement OF boxing
as a sport Moreover. boxing as a pro-
fession has its good side. also. Among
the men whose friendship and regard
have really valued I could name a num-
Der Of professional boxers. including sew
eral ring champions. The men TO whom
I refer I found square. decent men, who
showed themselves good citizens when
their good citizenship was tested. ap-
proved. Of the movement which IN this
State. at the time I was police COM
missioner. resulted IN the enactment Of
a law permitting contests between pro-
fessional boxers. under conditions which
we're meant TO safeguard the sport
against brutality and other evils which
have everywhere resulted sooner or later
IN the suppression OF the prize ring.
saw several Of these public boxing con-
tests. in which the intent Of the law was
carried out in good faith
Nevertheless. even under this law
abuses crept in. and finally one or two
lights occurred where the surrounding
circumstances were so scandalous that
when I was governor I was obliged TO
advocate and finally % secure the re-
peal OF tbs law under which the contests
took place. feeling convinced, together
with the great majority OF the citizens
OF the State that under It almost all
that made prize fighting Objectionable
and demoralizing had gradually been re-
vivsd
Would Stop Fights.
''NOw. this was my experience. the ex-
perieRce of a man who. so far from be-
ing prejudiced against boxing, was and
is a warm advocate of 1t, and who at
the outset had not the slightest preiu-
dice against professional boxing-that is,
boxing for purses Of money-and who
has numbered among his friends many
men who were professionals and had
fought for money prizes. am sure that
what has happened in New York will
happen IN the nation at large. and that
prize fighting will be. as 1t ought to be,
stopped in every State of the Union.
Since it was stopped in New York
the conditions surrounding the ring have
grown worse. and not better. The money
prizes fought for are enormous and are
a potent source of decentralization in
themselves, while they are often so ar
ranged as either to be a premium on
crookedness or else 10 reward nearly as
amply the man who fails as the man who
succeeds.
"The betting and gambling upon the
result are thoroughly unhealthy, and the
moving picture part of the proceedings
has introduced a new method of money
getting and OF decentralization. In addi-
tion. the last contest provoked very
unfortunate display of race antagoniSff.
''I sincerely trust that public sentiment
will be so aroused and viii make itself
felt so effectively as to guarantee that
this Is the last prize fight 10 take place
In the United states. and IL would be an
admirable thing If some method could
be devised TO stop the exhibition of the
moving pictures.
''(signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT"