The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-24

An huultl0n TO Lhese two there was
Evan Lewis Of Wisconsin, known far
and near as the Stranger. The
American title had been in the hands
of Lewis for several years, but In a
match in Chicago Farmer Burns had
won over the Wisconsin man. This
fact ranked for long time In Lew
is breast and up to the day OF his
retirement he was repeatedly hurl-
ing challenges at both Mcleod and
Burnt
1t was during these days also that
two foreigners attracted a great deal
Of attention. One was the little jap
whose leg Lewis broke in a brutal
match in Chicago. and the other was
Yousoff, the Turk, who made the
Stranger look like novice.
Were Three Great Men.
Lewis, Mcleod and Burns were UNI
doubtedly the three greatest men of
their time so far as America is con-
cerned. In the passing of few years
Jenkins Bell and Gotch came on the
scene about in the order named.
Within the past five years wrest-
ling has attained much broader pat
ronage than it ever had in the old
days. This is due largely to the dis
favor Of the legislatures of the diff
ferent states to prize fighting, and BY
the adoption of graphing by SO many
OF the young athletes, who would
have undoubtedly entered the prize
ring under different conditions.
The situation as 1t is today, how
ever, is in the same indeterminate
state that it was when Lewis, Burns
and Mcleod were the three principal
claimants for the title. There are
many more heavyweights today of
prominence and ability than there
were in the older days. In their time
Acton, Muldoon and Whistler played
very important roles on the American
mat
Perhaps thirty frst-cIass heavy
weights could be named, not includ-
ing the numerous foreign stars who
have visited America within the past
three years. IL these foreigners were
included, then there is no question
that the mat affairs OF the world to-
day have more worthy representatives
than they ever had during the past.
The HsaVyweight Title.
The situation as it is presented now
has been caused almost entirely by
the retirement of Frank Gotch. Even
IL Hackenschmidt succeeds in winning
from every American wrestler. that
doesn't bring about the solution of the
position that should be occupied by
the different grapplers of this country.
Henry Ordeman of Minneapolis has
been tacitly selected as the logical
of Frank Gotch. Ordeman
is unquestionably very good man,
but whether he can successfully meet
the numerous other heavyweights is
a question that can be decided only by
the actual matches. Without fear of
having to eventually enter into a con-
test with Gotch there should be con-
siderable distinction and a good deal
Of money to the man who can actually
become American champion.
This American championship must
not be confused with the worlds
Nor would the defeat
Of the best man in America by some
foreign grappler in any way affect the |
status of the American.
The eligibles among the heavy
wetghSs today should include Fred
Beell, Dr. B. F. Roller, Jesse wester-
gard, Henry Ordeman, Charley Olson. |
Gus Schoenlein, Yankee Rogers, Joe
Rogers. Charles Cutler, Adolph Ernst
and others, In addition to this, there
are dozens, of very good wrestIers who
belong in the more middleweights. |
Welters and lghtweights than the |
country has ever previously known.
The number of welters and middle |
weights is especially large. and there
are some very good men in these d. |
visions. No mention has been made |
Of Mahmout Zbyszko and others who |
must be classified among the foreign
ers. They cannot in any way concern
the standing of the American erap-
piers with relation to the American
All of the men men
joined are particularly entitled to con-
5ideration in contesting for the high
sst honors of the American mat. This
ioes not bar any other good heavy
weight who proves his position bv
wrestling to the top,
Fault of Wrestlers.
1t should also be borne in mind. in
Justice to wrestlers generally. that
great many Of the fellows who NAV
not be topnotchers are still favor
ties with the fans. Some of these are
justified in figuring in the windups
IF big events so long as they are
evenly matched. The only trouble
les in pitting poorer man against the
better men, which is very often the
'ault of the wrestlers themselves
'ather than of the match-makers.
The great variety of bouts that