The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1910-07-22
Roosevelt Says Stop FIGHT Pictures.

by Colonel Roosevelt. 1t is repro
duced as the probable final say regard
ing this event. The editorial advance
follows:
81 have always been fond of boxing.
and have always believed in it as d
vigorous, manly pastime, one of those
pastimes which have distinct moral
and physical value, because they en-
courage such essential virtues as
courage, hardihood, endurance, and
self-control. Until within a few years
l used to box good deal myself, and
when L was young several times took
part in contests of a public or semi
public nature-generally, am bound
to say, with i'll success. L thing box
ing is a sport which should be en-
couraged among boys and young men
generally. 1 have been glad to help
it so far as could in the army and
navy, where, believe, it has been an
excellent thing for the enlisted men.
When 1 WAS police commissioner,
was much struck by a statement made
to me by Jacob Kiss to the effect that
the establishment of boxing clubs in
many of the poorer districts had re-
suited in good, in rather unexpected
ways; that is, it had not only given
the vigorous young fellows who other
wise would join gangs" a legitimate
outlet for their activities, but had
also markedly reduced the number of
ARRAYS in which the knife was used.
The spirit produced by the boxing
had told against knife-fghting, and
distin ctly discouraged unfair play.
Therefore, from every standpoint,
believe in the encouragement of
boxing as a sport. Moreover, boxing
as a profession has its good side also.
Amony the men whose friendship and
regard 1 have really valued I could
name a number of professional box
ers, including several ring champions
The men to whom 1 refer 1 found
square, decent men, who showed
themselves good citizens when their
good citizenship was tested. 1 ap-
proved of the movement, which in
this state, at the time that | was
police commissioner, resulted in the
enactment of d law permitting con-
tests between professional boxers,
under conditions which were meant
to safeguard the sport against brutal
ity and the other evils which have
everywhere resulted sooner or later
in the suppression of the prize ring.
l saw several of these public boxing
contests, 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 fights occurred where the sur
rounding circumstances we're so
scandalous that when L was governor
was obliged to advocate and finally
to secure, the repeal of the 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
revived.
"Now this was my experience, the
experience of a man who, so for from
being prejudiced against boxing, was
and is warm advocate of it, and
who, at the outset, had not the slight
est prejudice against professional
boxing-that is, boxing for purses of
money-and who has numbered among
his friends many men who were pro-
fessionals and had fought for money
prizes. 1 am sure that what has
happened in New York will happen
in tn e nation at large, and that prize
fighting will be, as it 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 d potent source of
decentralization in themselves, while
they are often so arranged as either
to be a premium on Crookedness or
else to reward nearly as amply the
man who fails as the man who sue
ceeds. The betting and gambling
upon the result are thoroughly I'M
healthy, and the moving picture part
of the proceedings has introduced
new method of money-getting and of
generalization. In addition, the
last contest provoked very I'M
fortunate display of race antagouism.
sincerely trust that public sentiment
will be so aroused, and will make it.
self felt so effectively, as to guaran
tee that this is the last prize fight to
take place in the United States; and
it would be an admirable thing if
some method could be devised to stop
the exhibition of the moving pictures
taken thereof"
Central Committee Selects SdffOrd for