The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-09
PUGILISTIC GOSSIP
BY JEFF THOMPSON

New York, March Especial )--That
the boxing commission has succeeded in
putting boxing on higher plane in New
York than ever it has been is not to be
gainsaid. There is less fake fighting,
less crookedness and an altogether bet
ter atmosphere about the game than ever
before. This is not due to any improve
ment in the breed of fighters. managers
or hangers-on. Doubtless, if 1t were not
for the fact that the boxing commission
has made it SO that shady practices are
Improbable in this state, conditions would
not be changed. 1t is not strange then
that other states have seen and profited
by the work in New York.
The passing of favorable law In Utah
which will once more restore Salt Lake
City as one of the leading boxing CEN
ters, the probability that one or both of
the bills before the Illinois legislature
will pass and open up Chicago to the
knights of the padded mitt and the fact
that nearly half the states in the union
have evinced lively interest in the work.
ing of the Frawley law. all show that
the status of the game is going up.
This general movement to uplift the
game is the direct result of the success
of the law in this state. The idea of
governing boxing by means of a commis-
sion has proved to be, the one thing
needful to place the sport on sound
footing. During the year and half that
the Frawley law has been in operation
the results have been watched with in
terest In all parts of the country.
That the general verdict is favorable
one is evidenced by the fact that In all
over 20 states now either have boxing
bills before the legislature or are con-
templating having such bills drawn up.
In every state the provisions of the New
York state law have been or will be
closely followed.
Inquiry at the Office of the local COM
mission ELECTED the fact that Secretary
Charles Harvey has on file letters from
persons in authority In 10 different states
who request copies of the Frawley law
to guide them In forming bills to be
placed before their different legislative
bodies. The states from which requests
for information came are New Jersey,
Wisconsin, Delaware, Washington, Iowa,
Utah, Pennsylvania. Illinois, Minnesota
Montana, Ohio, Massachusetts, colorado,
West Virginia, Oklahoma, Rhode Island,
Louisiana, Idaho and Nebraska. -Secre-
tary Harvey said that there were several
others that he had misplaced but they
We're somewhere among his papers.
In a letter from member OF the .vis-
consin legislature the writer declared the
only opposition to the bill now before the
house came from the agricultural dis
tricts. 1t seems that the rural elements
objected to being called upon to con-
tribute toward the expense of supporting
a boxing commission when their fsola-
ton from the cities made 1t impossible
for them to see the bout. Harvey replied
to this that instead of being an expense
to the state the commission had taken IN
during the first year the sum OF $ooOW
from the different clubs and that this lett
profit OF $4,000 all Of which had geQe
to further the agricultural interests OF
the state.
Luther Mccarthy will probably remem-
ber hereafter that claiming a champion
ship and winning the title in the ring
are two vastly different propositions. haa
Luther been undisputed champion by right
of conquest he might have been able TO
play fast and loose as he did with tnse
Bombardier Wells match and made II
stick. AS 1t is. he finds himself on the
outside looking in and now Will have TO
wait awhile for the replenishtng OF MS
purse by means of fight. am inclined
to believe that Luther is the best IN the
heavyweight division. but after 81 TINS
Is only an opinion and is not supported
by the only proofs that so, proven su-
periority IN the ring. sstt :5 lfs ,