New-York tribune., 1911-09-11
TIE pPJzEFJGHT SCANDAL.

In the present prizefight situation IN
this CITY Governor Dix's administration
IS face to face with a positive scandal.
II he cares about the enforcement OF the
states laws. If he is solicit0us about the
fair fame Of his administration, 1t is
high time for him to bestir himself and
take a hand In that situation.
The Frawley prizefghting law requires
clubs giving these exhibitions to own or
hold lease for at least one year on the
building in which the fights are to be
given. The Madison Square Athletic Club,
under a license from the State Boxing
Commission, gave the first fight under
the new law at Madison Square Garden
on August 80. To obtain its license II
represented itself as having lease on
the Garden for year from July ~
1911. Mr.. Frank X. Sturgis, president
Of the Madison Square Garden Company,
tells The Tribune that no lease Of the
Garden for every night Of the year to
July. 1912, exists
IT, as Mr. Sturgis says, no real. bona
fde years lease exists, the commission
violated the law in licensing this club.
1t refused to grant license to club
in Albany which had lease of the
building where it wanted TO give fights
for one night each month instead of for
365 days On August 80 Commissioner
O'Neil was quoted in "The Evening
World" as saying that he had what he
considered proof that the Madison
Square Athletic Club did not hold valid
lease of the Garden for year, that he
laid this proof before his fellow mem
bers as a reason why no license should
be granted to this club, but was out
voted The fight promoters now refuse
10 give information about their lease, de-
flying the commission in this respect and
others even more important
The entire course of the commission
regarding this particular club has been
amazing. Why was 1t able TO obtain a
license without giving clear proof that it
held q valid, bona fde lease on the Gar
den and so conformed TO the law? The
commission had the issue presented
sQuarely 10 1t, enough facts laid before It
to warrant the most careful and search
ing investigation, If it had been scrupu-
lcus about the enforcement OF the letter
and spirit Of the law 1t was sworn to up
hold. Why, the license having been OBJ
tained was it not revoked after the dis
graceful occurrences of the night Of
August 80? The club now IS in the posi-
tion of refusing TO meet virtual charges
that 1t did not pay to the state all the
money it should have as per cent Of the
gross receipts Of that first night. The COM
mission still is in the position Of refusing
10 compel the promoters TO meet these
charges and clear up the question about
the lease. The club is still doing busi-
ness.
II don't see why there should be any
discrimination between the big interests
behind the Madison Square Athletic
Club and the small interests behind
smaller clubs" Mr.. O'Neil was quoted
by The Evening World" as saying
Who are the big interests? Mr..
Larry" Mulligan is commonly recog-
nized as one of the owners. Mr.. Larry"
Mulligan is one of the Sullivan clan,"
which aggregation, headed by Senator
Big Tim,' is powerful force in city
and state Democratic politics Is it pos
sible that there should be "discrimina-
ton" in their favor? Is it possible that
the commission, with its star-chamber
hearings, is afraid to let the public know
| if the laws have been broken for favored
politicians? Is it possible that Governor
! this Shiny mess and continue to prate
about a fair trial" Of the Frawley law?