El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-24
PLAYING HORSE"
LAN6F0RD-M' VEY?
Their Performance in Aus
tralia Smatters of the
Old Army Game.

Old Army Game.
(BY W. w. NAUGHTON)
san Francisco. Cal Feb. 25.-The ca
bic brings the news that the two black
Sams-Langford and McVey-are
matched to fight again in Sydney, Aus
tralia. next Easter Monday.
Well, here is one warmed over at
traction that is sure OF a big gate
When the two negro heavyweights
fought last December IS, and the reI-
cree decided in favor OF McVey, there
was what one AutipOdean scribe called
a wave OF popular indignation"
Referee Baker, VINO was always re-
garded as the embodiment Of souno
Judgment and integrity, was hooted
out of the ring.
Some OF the sports who have known
Baker for years spoke more IN sorrow
than in anger about the "misca rrlase
of justice" and attributed Bakers
wretched ruling more to temporary
alteration, Superlnduced by the neat,
than desire TO DO wrong
There was on all sides disposition
10 believe that Lang1Ord had got the
worst Of it, but after the first burst
OF virtuOUs Indignation, the Australian
boxing editors were far from being
unanimous in declaring that LangfOrd
should have had the match. They said
Ihey thought draw decision would
have fitted the exigencies Of the occa=
sion. From newspaper and private
mall it IS gathered that this IS about
the way the thing is viewed out yon-
der-that Langford should have been
permitted TO share the honOrs of dead
heat
To Be Matched Again.
The controversy which arose over
the decision has Whetted the appeutes
Of the Sidney sports. They are longing
Tor Tor another glimpse Of the two sans
IN action, and there is every reason for
suppOsing that a banner crowd viii
witness the Easter Monday reunion.
OF course there is no superstition
at least IN Australia-that the rival
negroes schemed to work off two
matches on an unsuspecting PUBLIC
but If there is any collision about the
affair the fighters and those behind
them must be regarded as tricksters-
Here in San Francisco 1t has been
remarked that the Langford -AfcVey
situation recalls what happened when
Jim Flynn and Sam LangfOrd were &C
customed to meet occasionally in Los
Angeles. Once to vary the monotony
of the performance Flynn was permit
ted to OutpOint LangfOrd Just as Nc
Vey OutboXed the tar baby" in sgd
ney in December. Flynn's showing
created a sensation in Los Angeles
that Is. among sports who were not OF
the inner temple-and a demand for
another lynn-LangfOrd bout was Gre
ated The pair met again, before a
bulging house, OF course. and the
things Langford did to Flynn were IN
human
There IS an idea that Lsangford may
show an unexpected return TO form
when he stacks up against Money on
Easter Monday. It Is safe TO say,
however. that there vii be no undue
surprise no matter what happens. II
Langford turns the tables on McNey
the news will be received Blacidly, and
If McVey scores a second time against
LanEford there viii be an equally
small q isnlay Of emotion This because
the public has tired OF trying to
guess LanEfOrd. He has been man
acled in so many fights But there IS
no telling when he IS free to punch
with all his might and main.
sam "Handcuffed' Half the Time.
Apart from the suspicion that Mr..
sam sometimes fights in hobbies. the
idea is entertained that he Is going
down hill But, even II this opinion
is merely the outgroWth Of his IN and
out performances and sam has It in
him to convince US he Is as good as
ever, ii must be said that the rules
under which glove contests are con
Quoted In Australia at present are in
measure a handicap to a man Of
LangfOrd's style of fighting.
LangfOrd IS an rinfighter. while Nc
Ney likes TO stand off and prod away
with long straight left The reports
Of the December contest show that
McNey worked the left to good purpose
but for fear that any one at this end
should think he baffled all Langford
attempts at infiEhting, II should be
explained that The new police rules
under which Langford and McVey
fought forbid men battling in the style
that Langford excels in.
I'm early December the opponents of
boxing Tn Australia, who are generally
called "W OWsers,' agitated strongly In
favor OF 2 stop being but to tho IA
Eorite indoor sport The police au-
thorities when appealed to declared
that there was nothing Objectionable in
paStimes as long s the
law was lived IN TO- About week or
50 ioeEote the date OF the last Lang
FORD McFeT match. the inspector gen
eral Of notice caused to be printed in
TIRE leading papers of Australia his
IDEAS rs to how boxing should be con-
quoted so as TO conform with the law.
The article bore the headline:
INSTRUCTIONS TO POLICE
and ran as follows:
Special Instructions have been Is
sued by the governor general for strict
observance by the police throughout
the state Of New South Wales regard
ing boxing contests. These Instructions
nave followed upon much controversy
regarding such contests, and upon al
legations Of brutality in connection
herewith, and especially in relation to
the proposed Langford-McVey fight.
Here are the instructions:
How Police Rule Fights
that the police must interfere when
either Of the contestants appears to be /
suffering from injury or IS exhausted I
)r otherwise appears unable to con- I
.inue. or If re is obviously overmatched. !
The notice have ample power to stop |
any fight where any OF the contestants I
are hurt a responsible officer of no
ice must always be present ana must +,
be careful that the contest is strictIv
I boxing match and does not develoo /
INTO prize fight or brutality re /
should also watch the contest care
.ully and act with prOmptiude. Be ]
-ore the fight the responsible officer /
should INSPECT the gloves and see thai
hey are NOT less than six pounds IN
weight each There must not IN an
.ircumstance be any infighting AZ
owed and a clean break must also
Dc insisted on. Contests must he FOR
J limited number Of rounds. NOT ev-
.eedlnE 20 TIE police must also see
mar posts and flooring within the ring
re suitably padded. so that a fan viii
iot De attended with any injury to The
ontestants. The contestants must he
&aInineQ and certified as fit for the
onlest by medical man before en-
I, till,- 1se ring and unless these CON
luons are observed. contest must
.oI pc allowed 10 Drocecd"
Inese are the rules of BOXING r-al1 I