The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-10
F1sT1cUFFs AND MORALS.

FISTICUFFS AND MORALS.
Making due allowance for zeal and mlsln-
formation. the indignation expressed at the re-
cent exhibition of fisticuffs in New 1ork is not
easily to be justified Whether boxing matches
are brutal and degrading or not is matter
principally of fact
There are men of good repute who put on the
gloves frequently and find that which is beneh-
cial to health is not destructive Of character
Many church nowadays, in a laudable effort
to gain energetic allies, maintains gymnasium
in which boxing is sometimes practiced, and
preachers have been known to acquire some
proficiency in self-defense without injury to
their calling.
Nearly all strenuous athletic sports have an
element of savagery, which public sentiment,
reinforced in some cases by law, has restrained
IF every possibility of roughness, even a
little blood-letting, were removed from such
pastimes, most of them would afford poor out
let for the animal spirits of muscular youth and
present no interest to flabby age.
Spiritually, it may not be highly edifying to
see thousands of people with eyes glued upon
two husky pugilists attempting to pummel each
other in the ring, but in most cases the physical
and moral damage is no greater than that at
tending a bout at auction bridge or football.
Now. here comes the New York Sun, with in
formation and food for thought. It says regard
ing the recent Willard-Moran encounter at
Madison Square Garden:
Among the more than 10000 who packed every
available space within the huge building were men
from practically every walk Of life and several
others in the most brilliant of evening gowns.
dress-suted patoons of ringside spectators
plicated but there liberal sprnkng of
in such attire here and there in the floor
j. P Morgan had box seat close to the scene
of action. Near by were Reginald vanderbilt
Harry Payne Whitney and Mayor Curley of Bos-
Others close to the ringsde were Enrico
Caruso, former Secretary OF War Garrison, Charles
F. Murphy, George NJ Cohan Diamond Jim Brady,
Geraldine Farrar, Jay Gould. David Belasco Russell
Philip Sousa Allan Pinkerton, August Belmont.
James A. Gilmore, Theodore P. Shonts. John X
Tener, Harrison Fisher Howard C. Chrsty, Alan
r. Hawley Judge Morgan J. oBrien Mars Cas-
sdy A. E. Erlanger and Joseph w. Hartman
The list of personages in attendance is high
" interesting comprising tinanclers, politl-
clans. actors, singers, artists, railroad mag
nate lawyers and just ''the common people,
most of the higher-ups being known in many
countries of both hemispheres.
Now is the time for all good parents to come
to the aid of preparedness In the matter OF in
sstence that their children should learn the art
of swimming. Failure Of knowledge IN swim
ming strokes is the cause or the loss OF many
lives The Keokuk Y NJ. c. A. natatorium will
furnish the facilities. and swimming lessons
may be taken there without danger. Learning
to swim is step towards the preservation of
life It is one of the safety first practices that
all should adopt.
Keokuk is not alone in her financial troubles.
The Des Moines city council goes into office
with shortage of 5000, 900 in all working funds
and new municipal court to finance without
cent having been provided therefore. And to
this should be added $4,000, shortage in the
general fund. The council has two alterna-
tives-economize or issue bonds. It's bad eye
that can 1T see a bond issue.
If it is true that President Wilson is twice as
strong as his party-an assertion coming from
some of the presidents administration any one
ought to be able to figure out just how much
strength there is left in the democratic party.