The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-17

is entirely too drastic" Mr.. Kiene
stated when approached on the sub
ject this week, but, nevertheless, 1t
must be enforced so long as it remains
law. Personally L am in favor of
repeating or modifying it, but unless
this is done 1 don't think Topeka Will
ever be able to see fights again even
though boxing is becoming a popular
sport in the leading educational in
situations of the country
And to show why he cannot allow
boxing of any kind within the bounds
of Shawnee county, Sheriff kiene
hauled out a copy of the statutes and
cited the law, which is, in fact, so
drastic that it makes unlawful every
thing connected with the manly art
except being born with hands that
can be doubled into fists. 1t even for
bids people training for boxing ex-
hibitions in the state, and it is pos
sible that if the authorities at K. u,
Manhattan or any other educational
institution should want to include
boxing in their sport curriculum they
could not do so under a strict inter
probation of this law. Certainly they
could not have boxing exhibitions and
make them Self-Supporting as football
and other sports are.
AS a civil commandment, this law is
the greatest little personal liberty
killer that was ever concocted. If
you don't think the law is iron clad,
brass bound, copper mounted and I'M
pregnable from muzzle to breach, just
take a squint at it. Here is how it
reads:
"Any person who shall send or
cause to be sent, publish or otherwise
make known any challenge to fight
what is commonly known as prize
fight, or shall accept such challenge
or engage in such fight, or shall en-
gage in any public or private boxing
or sparring match, exhibition or con-
test, with or without gloves of any
kind, for any prize, reward or COM
pensation, or at which any admission
fee is charged or received, either di-
rectIy or indirectly, or shall go into
training preparatory to such fight, eX-
hibition or contest, or act as trainer
for any person or persons contem-
plating a participation in such fight,
exhibition or contest, or shall act as
alder, abettor, hacker, umpire, train
er, second, surgeon, assistant, reporter
or attendant at such fight, exhibition
or contest, or in any preparation for
the same, and any owner or lessee or
any grounds, lots, building, hall or
structure of any kind permitting the
same to be used for such fights, eX-
hibitions or contests. shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof shall be imprisoned
in the county Jail not less than 30
days nor more than one year"
And then, following this gem of
laws, there is another that specifies
that any sheriff, constable, marshal,
or other police officer who allows any
of the above mentioned heinous
crimes to be perpetrated within his
Jurisdiction shall forfeit his office and
it shall be the duty of the county at
torney to see that he is removed.
But, in spite of the narrow minded,
uncalled for stringency of this law:
in spite of the fact that there are as
few fatalities in boxing as in any other
sport-less than IN wrestling; in spite
of the fact that Columbia university
gives graduation credits for profit
cheney in boxing ard that the Uni
versity of Missouri and Harvard sane
ton boxing, those who are in posi-
ton to know state that there is little
chance to get a more liberal law in
Kansas.