The Washington herald., 1915-12-06
new YORK FANS
Want DECISIONS
Gotham Followers of Fistic
Game Desire Commission
to Land a Verdict.
OTHER SCRAP COMMENT
By RINGSIDE.

New York, Dec. 5.-The agitation for
referees decisions in New York bouts Is
to be revived shortly. For q while 1t ap-
peared ~ If the fire would be smothered.
as thers was no one to feed fuel to the
conflagration after Fred Wenck, chair
man Of the State Athletic Commission.
retraced his steps after coming out in
favor Of permitting official verdicta
The boom was In Q mendicant state for
several months. And It might have died
natural death for lack OF nourishment.
But since Gov. Whitman appointed two
new commissioners as aides to Wenck.
thus completing tho commission as origi-
nally intended, another agitation is about
to be launched by local promoters.
In midsummer, when the Boxing Com
mission was almost depopulated by the
resignation Of Jim Price and the ousting
of Frank O'Neill. the matter Of empow-
ering the referees to render official ver-
diets was suggested to Gov. Whitman.
But he preferred to leave the matter to
the Boxing Commissioners. Then Fred
Wenck was appointed chairman of the
governing body. and the proposition was
put up to him. The idea found favor
with him, but he decided to bide his
time until two new commissioners were
appointed.
John Franey and Frank Dwyer have
been chosen by Governor Whitman to
assist wenck in guiding the boxing des-
TIMES OF the Empire State. Both are
noncommittal on the subject of de-
cisions, but 1t Is believed that the Big
Three will call a special conclave to
thresh out the matter before the new
year sets In.
1t may be purely coincidental. but It
Ah>k
Freddie Welsh fingered In town the
fans" demanded that referees decisions
be allowed. But as soon as the fight
ing" lightweight champion left for other
parts, the feeling began to wane until
It became nearly nil The appointment
of Franey and Dwyer has started the
ball a-rolling again.
Boxing for the fans Is the new order
in New York City. The promoters have
finally come to a realization that It is
the public that supports the game. and
unless the public Is treated fairly the
sport will deteriorate. The promoters
are devising all sorts of means to draw
out the populace. and several brilliant
ideas have been unearthed.
The most noteworthy scheme Is that
evolved by the manager Of the Amer
lean Sporting Club, which Is in the field
a year. Fighters subscribing to con-
tracts at this club have their attention
called to a sort OF protective clause. 1t
protects the public, and reads that un-
less the bout is satisfactory to the spec
tators no money Is to be paid to the
Principals and all moneys are to be re-
funded
Sam Langford and Sam Mcvey were
the first to fight under this arrangement.
l,~s- lzAN
they were paid for their services. Strange
as 1t may seem. the two Sans gave an
exhibition Of ring knowledge that has
seldom been seen in a local ring. Both
have been mauling heavy-weights for
over decade. and despite their heft are
as sprightly as light-weights. Theirs was
supposed to be a brother act" but they
disappointed the cynics by putting up a
bruising battle
OF course. the American Sporting Club
will be unable to sign up some leading
lights in the fighting game. We could
name any number of tango experts that
would not be paid II they performed at
this club. Notable among these are
Freddie Welsh and Al Mccoy. If every
club In the country were operated under
a similar arrangement. these two would
never get a penny for "fis shtipg"
An Akron (Ohio) fight club Is respon-
sible for this fight-or-refund idea. The
promoters OF this cIhb took this stand
after Johnny Kilbane and his one-time
sparring partner. Cal Delaney, had in
hicted themselves on club members for
ten tiresome rounds. The spectators
threatened never to attend another show
there unless they had some guarantee
that they would be protected from repe-
tition.
Willie Beecher and Johnny Griffiths, a
local boy. were offered as the next at
traction. and both had to sign an agree
ment that their showing must satisfy the
gathering or they would not be paid
They agreed. and the spectators were
satisfied. They were paid. We are wait
ing to So how this scheme turns out
when IL dght = -Ast satisfactory. -