The evening world., 1917-05-10
.R.Ir
9
%SNC@&NE~
]. r. Lucey, for the Recruiting
Committee Of the Mayors
Committee on National De-
tense, Makes Strong Plea for
the Retention Of Boxing in
This State.
coVynsahk .iSiI; b q hI rTIS tMSs VIII o.

noXING IL one OF - sports de-
ID pended upon to develop first
class fighting men-men with
the ability and the will to nsht-in
the United States Navy. Probably
Gov. Whitman will not claim that
the navy Is conducting a disreputablo
and brutal sport.
During the past day or two have
received scores OF letters from all
sorts OF people who are strongly OPP
posed to having boxing contests, as
carried on under the Frawley Law.
stopped In this state.
Here Is "A letter from a gentleman
who represents the sentiments OF hun
dreds OF thousands In this city:
MAYORS COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL DEFENSE.
Mr.. r.. Edgren.
Evening World, y. Y. City.
Dear Sir: Please accept the sin
cere thanks OF this committee for
the valued assistance YOU rendered
US through tho columns OF your
paper in connection with u re-
ceptlon 10 the officers and crews
0f tho visiting warships OF our
allies at Madison Square Garden
on May Sd last.
We are frank 10 say that with
"a your generous newspaper con-
trlbutions IL would have been al
most impossible TO convey the nee
essary Information TO the public,
which resulted, as you know, In
bringing 10 the Garden one Of tho
largest crowds In It's history.
We agree with you and hope
that tho boxing and wrestling ex-
hibitions at the Garden will help
70 bring tho sport before the pub
lie in q light which will no doubt
be beneficial 10 II, especially in
Wow Of the fact that II Is the prin-
cipal form OF athletic entertain
ment INDUCED In by both the
army and the navy.
Cordially yours.
J.. 4. LUCEY,
For the Recruiting Committee
-.of the Mayors Committee
t:.on National Defense.
A CCORDTNG 10 the latest advicei
n from Australia. over 200 bOxerI
In all classes enlisted there foi
the war. The boxing clubs have raiseC
close 20 ;e5O.00o" for war purposes
The boxers remaining In Australia
tmany because they are under age
nave built homes at a place calle'
French's Forest for crippled boxer
returned from the fighting front.
THE latest recruit 10 the Sporting
Legion is Art Edmunds. VIII.
will be remembered in Nov
York as one OF the greatest hghtinI
featherweights since the time OF Nc
Govern. Edmunds. known as IN
Pocket Hercules. was 50 dangerou
that after n few fights he vas com
PEELED TO tight lightwcights. weltcr
and even middlcweights.
Art has been In Canada for som
years, and there he has been engage
in military work, Edmunds lost tn
sight OF eye 10y accident year
.tgO, FOR which reason he was r~cjCctc
when he tried to enlist with the Cana
dian troops, Here II his CNperienC,
rs told by himself In a letter froi
Toronto:
Il tried i've times 20 enlist.
The battalious an wanted me, but
I was turned down by the doctors
on account OF my eye. | tried
the sixth tune-samc doctors, or
cOurse-Ind ! told them that |
MUST be signed on. and that n
they wanted a sample Of my night
ing ability FOR them 10 pick out
four OF the husklest mon In the
battallons, put them in a room
with me and order them TO give
me Il good beating. II they suc
cceded would stay away. but 81
beat them | wanted 20 be signed
on.
They signed me ON then and
there and made me a physical In
BtTuctur and put me on the re-
cruiting stan. II vas "A "A blow
10 me when the battalion went
overseas and left me behind. final
medical examination causing my
rejection because OF the blind eye,
Enc Colonel, officers and men AN
told me they regretted much my
not being with them. My broth
crs have been there and proved
hat We r a lighting family on
the field as well as IN the ring
and the mat. | have been read.
ing OF the sporting Legion. and
had such a large following Of IN,
sporting public whenever ] ap.
peared In New York city ! be.
lieve II a duty 20 Offer my ser.
vices TO the legiou-such To b.,
used IN any way. ! would be ,
private OF a recruiting sergeant
was n Of the team here tina
won the silver cup for securiu!
the most recruits. I did GOO
work for a good cause. Hopinl
will be accepted In some ca
pacity for the good old L. :. \
/ remain yours truly,
ART EDMUNDS"
II seems 10 me the L. :. a. 60