La Junta tribune., 1910-07-23
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vigorous, manly pastIme, one Of those
pastimes which have a distinct moral
and physical value, because they en-
courage such essential virtues as
courage, hardihood endurance and
selfcontrol Until within few years
| used to box a good deal myself and
when ! was young several times took
part In contests OF a public or semi
pua lie uaturc-Eenerally, am bound
to say. with i'll success. think box.
ing is a sport which should be encour.
aged among boys and young men gen
orally, have been glad to help it so
far as ! could In the army aud navy,
where. believe, 1t has been an excel
lent thing for the enlisted men. When
was police commissioner. was
much struck boy statement made 10
me by Jacob Riis to the effect that
the establishment Of boxing clubs In
many OF the poorer districts had re-
suited lu good lu rather unexpected
ways, that is. 81 had not only given
the vigorous young fellows who other.
wise would join gangs a legitimate
quite, for their activities, but had also
markedly reduced the number OF az
trays la which the knife was used
The spirit produced by IN" boxing
had told against knifc.nshtiuE, aud
distinctly discouraged unfair play
Therefore. from every standpoint,
/ believe In M. announcement Of box
ing as a sport, Moreover. boxing As
a profession has It's good side also.
Among the men whose friendship and
regard ! have really valued l could
name a number OF professional boxers
including several ring champions.
The men io whom I refer ! found
square, decent men. who showed
themselves good citizens when their
good citizenship was tested ap-
proved Of the movement which iu
New YORK state. fag time that
was police commissioner. resulted iu
the enactment ut llV permitting
contests between professional boxers.
under conditions which were meant 6.
safeguard Che sport against brutality
aud the other evils which have every
where sooner or later resulted iu the
suppression uf the prizsriuE saV
several of these public boxing CON
tests. Zoo which the intent Of the Law
was carried out In good faith.
Ncserlhnlo-s. oven under this law.
abuses ,rnpJ iu. and finally, one or
two rrhis occurred where the sur
rounding circumstances were 80 scan
dalous that when was governor
was Obliged 20 advocate. aud finally
10 secure. the repeal OF the Law under
which the contests took place. feeling
convinced. together with the great
majority uG IN, citizens OF the state.
that under b. almost an that made
prize fighting objyctIoUa' le and de-
moraliznE had gradually been reyiy.
cd.
Now, this vas my experience. the
experience ot man Who, so far from
being proIudioud against boxing. was
and ls warm advocate Uf o.. aud
who. 90 The outset. had not the slight.
est prejudice aEainsl professional box.
inE that b.. boxing for purses Of
money vhp has numbered among
his friends many men who yer, pro
fcssiuuals and had fought Tor money
prizes / am sure that what has hap.
peu"d In New York vlll happen iu
the nation al large, and that prize
fighting viii be-. AS it ought 10 be-.
stopped IN every state of the Union
Since q was stopped Boz NrW York
the conditions Surrounding the ring
have EruWn worse. and not better.
The money prizes fpusht Tor are ynors
nous, and are potent source Of
decentralization In Themselves. while
they are often 30 arranged as either
10 be premium on erookcdness or
else 10 reward nearly as amply the
man Who fails as the man Who sue
ccpds The betting and gambling
upon the result are thoroughly un'
healthy. and the moNing.picture part
OF the proceedings has introduced u
new method Of moncygctting and OF
generalization In addition. tn. last
contest provoked d very unfortunate
display OF race antagonlsm. sin.
c.rely trus, that public sentiment
will be no aroused and will make II.
self felt so effectively. as to guar.
auicc that this IL the last prix. fight
TO take place in the United States.
aud Il would bo an admirable thin. II