Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-26

~ something While
the elevation of the elephantine Stewart
trusty right fin was of no special i'm.
portance TO the lay brother to the Initial
ed. or I might say talent" the deed was
fraught with significance in that IL de-
noted the intention OF the National people
Ia take the bull by the horns and give
the sports what they have been crying
for-decisions by referees at the con-
clusion of boxing contests
For, he il understood. referees de-
cisions have been strictly on the taboo
list since professional boxing has been
in bloom under the Frawley law and the
supervision of a state commission. This
state of affairs naturally created con
sidera bic dissatisfaction among support
eTs of boxing. and the National Sport
ing Club in instructing its referee to midi
cate the winner was bowling TO the wishes
of the people who contribute their cash
To tie support of the game
Commissioner O'Neill has gone on rec
ord as being in favor of permitting the
decision thing. His colleague. Maj.
Dixon. is strenuously opposed to changing
the present system. and there you are
There is nothing in the Frawley law that
prohibits referees verdicts: it Is optional
whether they be permitted or not.
rs Messrs O'Neill and Dixon framed
the ruling against decisions. il is TO be
expected that those who violate such rul-
ing will he forced to suffer the conse-
dUences. which means their licenses Will
he revoked. But the matter will not end
there II is cinch that the National
Club for one will appeal from such judg-
ment and ask the opinion of the higher
courts on the question, IL necessary. The
rule against decisions applies TO PROBES
s.onaI contests alone: verdicts in amateur
bouts are allowed. 1t appears to me that
this discrimination against professionals
In decidedly unfair to promoters and box
ers. as we'll as the public, and II seems
only reasonable TO expect that the courts
will take the same view of the matter.
The regrettable part of the affair is the
fact that the agitation will do the game
little good: TOO much publicity is always
bad medicine for professional sports, and
particularly boxing
believe the removal Of the ban would
act for the good of the sport l have
been an advocate of decisions since the
FrawIey law has been in operation, ana
have commended that the prohibitory rul-
ing is a knock instead of a boost for the
pastime of swat and duck. Those who
argue that official decisions encourage
gambling contests are of the pess1-
mistic kind, who never see good In any
all men are crooked 1t is extremely
doubtful if there would be any more bet
ting II referees selected winners than
there is under existing conditions
The argument that referees would fall
for .'propositions' from gamblers and
render decisions accordingly is absurd. A
referee might get away with the rough
work once. but that would be about all
The law gives thu boxing commission au-
thoritv 10 issue And revoke licenses of
hot II
would be up to that body to keep the ar
biters on the straight and narrow path.
And for that matter l do not know OF
any man who officiates in local rings
who would stoop to dishonest methods.
The majority have established reputat tons
Tor honesty and capahility by years OF
good and faithful service Such men as
Tim Hurst Charley White. Patsy Haley,
Billy Jon and Sam Austin have enviabie
records. these are the sort OF men who
preside AT the principal Gotham clubs
Give the public that supports pro-
fessional boxing what it wants. COM
missioners. as long as you can do so
within the letter of the law If you
have any doubts concerning the in
tegrIty of your referees 1t lies in your
power TO reduce the possibility Of evil
in that direction to a minimum. A
very good plan would be. suggested
in this column some months ago. to
assign boxing referees to the different
clubs on the same plan that the base
BAH authorities lay out work for UNI
pires- If this plan is adopted it Will
be an exceedingly dificult job for IN
scrupulous persons to get to" the
right man, inasmuch as assignments
will not be made public until the last
moment.
Jim Flynn and mis- retinue Of train
ers have settled down to the hard
work OF training and reports emanat-
ing from the little town Of Las Vegas
tell Of a spirit OF confidence thet per
vades The camp of the white challenger
for the championship. Tho oppOsa
uon to the light that for a time
threatened to develop into SERIOUS
trouble has bean smoothed over snd
everything Indicates that the biz holi
day event win take pAacs as originally
planned
Jack Cur.ey. acting In the double
contestants and promoter Of the bat.
. tie. - very conhd ent the attraction viii
draw immense crowds and that Flynn
ana n'1 himself shf nsHre :.y As 70,
talked with man with more conf.
dence in his ability TO win q ARht thar
the Pueblo fireman manifested dur1ns
our recent conversation II courage
and belief I'm ones own powers ar.
half the battle, as many profess TO be-
lieve. then Flynn certainly has g rrant
chance.
That Flynn and curley are no. tryin.
offer 10 bet on the result. F1ynn Ia
$'o4 OF his hard-earned coin that 81
viii risk at odds of 2,s TO /. and C,.r,e,
has already placed several thousand
with Tom O'Rourke at these odds III
to date | have not heard of any r7,sh !,
grab the easy money these ruiIeIes
gentlemen have offered at the odds men
TONED. Jim is a legitimate or 4 TO
shot on the records of the men. I sue
Sest 10 those who are always irving Z
beat the price that this looks like one ON
portunity to get something for nothing
Later on the weight of money that /
always on tap to back champion viii
make Flynn's price lengthen and in yiey
of t5at fact. Messrs. Curley and Flynn
proposition to accept the shorter pr1c
has sporting ring to il that must appea
to those who admire game guys"
1t is the intention OF the Garden Ath
letic Club of this city to feature inter
national contests throughout the summe
season. OF course, this does not mea
that the home boys will not be paire
now and then; in fact. the garden folk
have several corking bouts I'm view i
which the principals are Americans. Blu
the officials are convinced that New York
ers like to see our best boys pitted againe