The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-21
The BOXING CANE
viii Squared Circle Sport Ever
Come Back in Kansas?
Fighting Puts w. W. Glenn, ex-
TOpekan, on His Feet.

In Kansas. and in a great many
other states, prize fighting and boxing
are against the law. and public eXhi-
billions Of the manly art of self de-
tense are very rare in these states.
The reformers who brought these
conditions about contend that the
states are better off because of them
and that the moral standard of the
people is higher. They contend that
boxing bouts are brutal and that no
good ever comes of encouraging or
permitting them.
At Harvard university, on the other
hand, and at the University of Mis-
souri, the authorities are encouraging
the students to take up boxing because
it gives them such good physical train
ing and because said authorities think
that those who go in for the sport viii
make better citizens and better men
because Of it. At Harvard they are
even trying to get John L. Sullivan,
one of the most noted retired profess
sional fighters in the country, to as
sist in making the sport popular.
And those who are enthusiastic sup
porters of pugilistic science contend
that. in addition to being manly,
healthy exercise, boxing has many 9TH
er things to commend it to the patron
age and support of the general public.
1t is claimed that if more boys were
taught to defend themselves with their
fists there would be less ''gun tOting'
and consequently fewer murders as the
result of personal differences.
Roosevelt a Boxer.
Among prominent men who have
gone in for boxing and given it their
moral support is eX-President Roose-
Welt And a great many men who
stand high in public life and the bust
ness world encourage the game.
But those who are in touch with the
public sentiment pulse of Kansas as
sert that fighting is destined never to
return to popularity in che state, and
that any effort that might be made to
have the anti-prize fight law repealed
would certainly meet with defeat. And
since Jess Willard, a native Kansan
and at the present time the leading
professional pugilist of the world re-
Gently stated that he wouldn't be gov
ernor of the state. even if he could
bring back the game" it seems use
less to talk about it.
However, a little personal incident,
bearing on the subject and lending
evidence to the cause of the fight
advocates has happened within the
last year that is worthy of considera-
ton in recounting the merits of the
squared circle sport.
A little over a year ago w. w. Glenn
an Associated Press operator who was
working on a morning paper in To-
peka, began to realize that constant
night work without a proper amount
of exercise was getting the best of
him. Doctors told him that he would
knew him whispered that the grind
would get him if he didn't watch out.
The End in Topeka.
And just about a year ago an effort
was made to revive boxing in Topeka
within the law and stage exhibition
bouts Glenn saw a chance to get the
exercise he wanted and joined the lit
tie circle quietly, appearing in public
under the name of Jimmy Dunn.
Things went along smoothly for the
athletic club and Glenn began to take
to the game like a duck to water.
But just when things were going
best, the club became too ambitious
and the fans too eager. A bout was
arranged between Topeka Jack John
son and n fighter by the name of Nor
timer, who claimed the heavywel ght
championship of Canada.
on the night of the bout, the house
was packed and when one of the pre-
Hminaries was called many of Glenn 5
friends who had been predictinS that
he was physically unfit were surprised
to see him appear in one of the pre-
lirlinaries against man VINO looked
much more like q pug than himself
And these same friends were more
surprised to see Glenn give the larger
man all he wanted in the way of stiff
punches.
After the preliminaries were over
Johnson and Mortimer came on, and
in about a minute and a half after the
opening of the first round Mortimer
who had boosted that he would make
"Topeka" Jack turn up his toes, al
lowed his jaw to come in contact with
a stiff jab and took the count.
This ended boxing in Topeka ano
the authorities notified the club Il
disband. It was sad blow to Glenn
He knew that it would be harder fol
him to keep up his exercise and he
had gotten such a taste of the game
that he wanted more.
Glenn to ST. Joe.
And so in a short time Glenn, alias