Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-16
Prize Fights Not Aviation.

There should he no revival of the prize
fght industry OIL the borderland or the
District of Columbia. There PROBABLY
will not be revival of the sport, out
anv attempts in that direction should be
promptly and squarely dealt with Prize
fighting has been outlawed throughout
the Union. and the practice of such gem
orally debasing and brutalizinS pas
time" in the environs of the capital would
be particularly disgraceful.
In The Star Friday evening was pub
lished a news article which went to snow
that a company Incorporated by the Mary
land legislature on April for the pur-
pose of advancing the science or aVlauofl
was seeking to so interpret the terms. Oh
its charter that it might also carry on
prize fights. The preamble Of the act To
incorporate the American Aero EXhloi-
ton Company of College Park. Mary
land" recites that:
Whereas the Aero Club of Washington
District of Columbia. and the Aero CUB
of Baltimore, in the state OF MarEiand,
have jointly offered the sum or s-NoUo
for the purpose of securing the interna-
tional aviation meet at College Park; and
Whereas, the national government or
the United States. through its accredited
agents in the army thereof, mas recoS-
nized the fields and site at College Park,
Nd as the most avahable for national
and international tests and exhibitions In
aerial navigation: and
Whereas it Immediately becomes nee
essary 10 organize to secure the adoption
of College Park as the central grounds
of aviation in America, where general eX-
hibitions of science, arts. industry and
athletics may henceforth be held
The fifth section OF the act of incor
poration provides:
That the company shall have the power
and is hereby expressly authorized to
hold. from time to time. agricultural
fairs. give exhibitions of arts industries,
sciences and athletics. with the right to
exhibit and hold contests thereof, and af
fix the admission fee and dispose of
privileges of every kind and character
upon the grounds of said company: to
establish and maintain grandstands, am
phitheaters, tracks for such contests and
such other amuSementS and entertain
Inents which the board of directors shall
deem proper for the purpose of encOurag-
ing the growth and development of avia-
ton and kindred contests in America: TO
lay tracks. run cars, install lighting and
heating plants upon its grounds, and 20
allow space for all exhibits, and to plan
and determine the scope and character of
all such exhibitions and contests, with
the right to award prizes and appoint
judges and examiners in the award of
prizes and premiums.
1uo pTeSdIlDle OedlS Win AVIATION, Out
mentions athletics in such relation to EEK
hibitions Of science. arts and industry
that the only Interpretation to be put
upon it is that it refers to athletics that
are incidental to aviation. The fifth sec
1ion is construed or misconstrued, how
ever, to confer on the company the right
10 hold man fights. dog fights, chicken
fights. horse racing and other general
exhibitions of science, arts, industry and
athletes"
The report of The Star told of the hold
ING of two prize fights to test the right OF
the Aero Exhibition Company to conduct
such athletic contests under the terms
Of its charter. The incorporation Of an
aero company with loosely defined powers
and the almost immediate claim that its
charter gives the right to hold prize
fights smacks OF sharp practice.