The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-30
ATTEMPT REPEAL
 OF BOXING LAW People Generally Are in Favor of the Sport GOV. DIX'S ATTITUDE Bill to Repeal the Law in Next Meet ing of the Legislature Would
 Result in a Clash Between
 the Members
GOV. DIX'S ATTITUDE
By BAT MAsTERsON

New York, October 29.-(Special)-A rumor more or less well founded is travelling around In certain quarters
 that the boxing law will be given the
 springboard as soon as 1t can be got at when the next legislature meets in January at Albany. That an effort
 is to be made to repeal the Fawley law seems foresone conclusion Also that an attempt will be made to pass
 bill making boxing a felony in this state.
 When the Frawley law was passed it was defended by its sponsors on the ground that the people of the state wanted such a law. Governor Dix is reported to have made such a state ment If the people of the state were in favor of boxing and wanted a law to protect it when the Frawley bill
 was passed what has happened since then to cause them to change their
 minds? The probabilities are the peo-
 pie of the state have not changed their
 minds. If they wanted boxing when Governor Dix signed the Frawley bill in all probability they still want it. r., therefore, the Frawley law is repealed by the incoming legislature 1t will not be because the people desire it, but because few disgruntled politicians and ward heelers, who failed In their
 attempt to hog the game after it started, are out to get even.
 If bill should be introduced when the legislature meets having for it's purpose the repeal of the boxing law there will doubtless be a clash be- tween the members of the legislature who are in favor of the sport and who had no intent, directly or indirectly, ! in any profit that may accrue there- from and those who are seeking its destruction because they were frus- trated in their efforts to grab every
 thing in sight If Governor Dix be- l lieves boxing to be manly and healthy sport. as he Is reported to have stated. 1t is more than likely that he'll take l in hand the matter when it comes up and use his influence for the pres ervationH of the game. There is not
 any reason for the repeal of the box l ing law and unless, as already stated, a few disgruntled politicians. who were | thwarted in, their plans to monopolize the sport, succeed in their purpose to
 get even it will not be repealed
 Would not it be fine commentary
 on the intelligence of the upstate of
 the legislature if they permit them selves to be drag ged into aiding a few | grabb jimmles of this town in re- pealing the boxing law. Tn nearly ev- i cry city and town of any consequence | in the state boxing clubs are running
 and they are patronized literally, toe.
 No fault is found with the law by lthe majority of those living in these communities. Just because a few pol ! lftcians in this city who had had their I claws, clipped by the boxing commits 1 sloti. are ,out to put the sport on the | bum-to use their eNpression--is no
 reason whyr they should be assisted in | their despicable work by decent self l respecting legislators from other parts
 of the state and they probably won't,
 because certain local combination was
 not allowed a boxing club in violation
 of the law by the state athletic com
 mission is hardly. sufficient reason for
 putting the law on the bum. And vet
 that is exactly what this combination
 proposes Of .course,- if boxing in this
 city is to be monopolized by politicians,
 1t would be far better to have the law l wiped off the statute books alto- l gether.@ To be sure, the local enemies
 of boxing might succeed in destroying | the sport with the help of the legisla-
 ture, but it's doubtful The sport is
 now in q healthy condition all over the
 state and reasonably so here in the city, and 1t is to be hoped that the Legislature this winter will let the mat ter alone. The dog in the manager sort
 of politics is much in vogue in local
 politics but happily 1t is not much in
 favor in other sections of the state
 If bill for the repeal of the boxing
 law should be introduced in the legis.
 lature this winter 1t will doubtless be
 sponsored from some member from
 Greater New York. In that event it might be well for the upstate mem bers to inquire as to the why's" and
 wherefores.." By so doing they would not have much trouble in locating tls bug under the chip.