El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-25

New York y. Y. May 25.-When
Patsy Haley, referee at the National
Sporting club. grabbed heaavyw ight
Jim Stewart by the right duke and
raised said member in the general d.
rectiOn of the rafterS, he surely start
ed something. While the elevation OF
the elephantine Stewards trusty right
finn was OF no special importance TO
the lay brother, to the initiated, or
might say, talent the deed was
fraught with significance in that II
denoted the intention Of the national
people to take the bull by the horns
and give the sports what they have
been crying fOr-declsiOns by referees
at the conclusion of boxing contests.
For be IL understood referees decis-
ions have been strictly on the taboo
list since professional boxing has
been in bloom under the FraWley law
and the supervision of a state commits
sion This state OF affairs naturally
created considerable dissatisfaction
among supporters OF boxing, and the
National Sporting club in instruCting
its referee to indicate the winner was
bowling to the wishes OF the people who
contribute their cash to the support OF
the game.
Commissioner O'Neiu has gone on
record as being in favor of permitting
the decision thing. His colleague. Maj.
Dixon. Is strenuOusly opposed to chang
ing the present system. and there you
are There Is nothing in the FraWley
law that prohibits referees verdicts;
II is optional with the members Of the
"commish' whether they be permitted
or no.
As Messrs. O'NeiH and Dixon framed
the ruling against decisions il is to be
expected that those who violate such
ruling viii be forced 10 suffer the con-
sequences, which means their licenses
will be revoked. But the matter win
not end there. 1t is cinch that the
National club, for one, Will appeal such
Judgment and ask the opinion of the
higher courts on the question. If neces-
sary- The rule against decisions aD-
plies TO professional contests alone
verdicts in amateur bouts are allowed
It appears to me that this discrimina-
ton against professionals is decidedly
unfair TO promoters and boxers. as
well as the public, and IL seems only
reasonable to expect that the courts
VIII 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 profess
sional sports and particularly boxing
believe the removal Of the ban
would act for the good of the sport
j have been an advocate Of decisions
since the Frawley law has been in
operation, and have contended that the
prOhlbitOry ruling is a knock instead of
a boost for the pastime OF swat and
duck Those who argue that official
=
tests are Of the pessimistic kind who
never see good i'm anybody or any
thing. and who figure that all men are
crooked. 1t is extremely doubtful If
there would be any more betting II
referees selected winners than there is
under existing conditions.
The argument that referees would
fan for propositions from gamblers
and render decisions accordingly is
absurd. referee might get away
with the rough work once, but that
would be about all. The law gives the
boxing commission authority to issue
and revoke licenses Of referees at
their own sweet Will and it would be
up 10 that body to keep the arbiters on
the straight and narrow path. And for
that matter, do not know OF any man
who officiates in local rings who
would stOOp to dishonest methods. The
majority nave established regulations
for honesty and capability by years Of
good and faithful service. such men
as Tim Hurst, Charley White Patsy
-alegs Billy John and sam Austin
have enviable records; these are the
sort Of men who preside at the prin-
cipal Gotham clubs.
Give the public that supports profes-
SlOudl boxing what they want. com
missiOners, as long as YOU can do so
within the letter OF the law II you
nave any doubts concerning the integ-
rity OF your referees. It lies in your
power 10 reduce the possibility Of evil
very good plan would be. as suggested
IN this column months ago. TO assign
boxing referees to the different clubs
on the same plan that the baseball au-
thOrtties lay out the work for umpires.
II this plan IS adopted, il viii be an
exceedingly difficult Job for unscrupu-
lOus persons 10 get TO" the right man,
inasmuch as assignments will not be
made public until the last moment.
go
Jim Flynn and his retinue Of train
ers have settled down to the hard
work of training. and reports emanat-
ing from the little town OF Las Essss
tell of a spirit Of confidence that per
EadeS the camp Of the white challenger
Tor the championship. The opposition
10 the fight that for a time threatened
TO develop into serious trouble, has
been smOOthed over and everything
VIII take place as originally planned
JACK Curley, acting in the double
capacity of manager of one Of the con-
testants and promoter of the battle is
very confident the attraction will draw
immense crowds, and that Flynn viii 7
defeat the negro johnson As for Flynn
himself, I'll say i have never talked
MS ability to win fight than the
Pueblo fireman manifested during our
conversation. If courage and belief in
ones powers is half the battle. as
many profess TO believe. then Flynn /
certainly has a grand chance
That Flynn and Curley are not try
ing 10 kid the public is made plain By I
their offer to bet on the result Flynn /
mas $1,000 Of his hard earned coin that
ne will risk at odds Of two and one
halt TO one, and Curley has already