Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-28
FIVE STATES WANT
TO TACKLE BOXING
Measures introduced in Illinois,
Nebraska, Missouri, Cali
fornia and Michigan.
THAT WILLIAMS MATCI
BY RINGSIDE.

OF the shady actions of its adher-
ents, may come back into his own in
1917.
Already in FIVE states-lllinois,
Missouri, California, Michigan and
Nebraska-bills have been introduced
TO lcgalizc the game OF hsticutfs,
and there is every indication that they
will pass.
In Illinois Colonel Garrity OF the
Second Illinois infantry, impressed
by the success of boxing among the
men while on border duty, is behind
measure to grant boxing to the
cities of the state under proper re-
strictions.
In Missouri, where boxing in lim-
tied number OF rounds is already per.
mittcd. a measure has been offered
TO raise the limit to twenty rounds,
1t is fostercd by DR.. c. W, Wester-
man, chairman of the st, Louis Box
ing commission. In ST. Louis twelve
round contests. under police super
vision and without decisions, are in
vogue. In Kansas City and St. Jo-
seph fifteen rounds to a decision are
permitted or barred, according to
whether the police ADMINISTRATORS
are favorable or unfavorable. In Jop-
lin short contests to decision are
put on. The Westerman bill would
make all parts of the state equal.
Funds to Mothers.
In California the proposed law pro-
vided for state boxing commission
and ten-round contests conducted by
regularly incorporated clubs. The re-
mainder OF the commissions receipts
above actual expenses would go to
1 the mothers pension fund.
Conditions in Michigan arc pecu,
liar, and over-eagerness on the part oi
the promoters may spoil the chances
During the administration OF Gov.
ernor Ferris both houses of the leg.
islature passed measure legalzine
boxing. When the measure reached
the governor it promptly was vetoed
Boxing enthusiasts were leading op'
ponents OF the reelection of Gov
ernor Ferris and supported the new
executive, A. Z. Sleeper, who is sale
to look favorably upon glove con
tests.
Promoters Miss Guess.
The promoters, however. took tot
much for granted, and no sooner hat
Governor Sleeper taken Office thar
they began staging bouts all over th
state, whereupon the governor in
structed the sheriffs to clamp the lii
on and keep it on until such time a
the sport had been made lawful,
Minnesota is in danger Of losini
the game as the result Of the boxini
commissions Interpretation of th
law passed two years ago. Georg
Moeller, representative and autho
Of the law, intended that the entir'
state should be permitted to stag
bouts, but the commission construe'
it to apply only TO st. Paul. Mime
\ apolis and Duluth, and Moeller, an
gered at what he believes unfair rul
ings, is asking for repeal of the law
Even South Doubts.
Even down in New Orleans, wher'
they are strong for the south and al
things southern, there is some doub
Of the justness OF the decision of Ref
cree Billy Recap Of Philadelphia il
awarding the bantamweight crown o
Kid Williams of Baltimore to Pet
Hermann OF New Orleans after thei
twenty-round mill. The papers gen
orally expressed surprise over the de
cision and frankly doubted whethe
Hermann was entitled to any NOR
than draw at best.
Recap, in a statement issued imme
diately after the decision had bee
hissed and he had been booed in thre
Of the city's leading hotels, declare
that he based the award on the fac
: that Hermann beat Williams to mos
OF the leads and the effect of tn
southerner's blows. Williams, he sait
landed often and hard on the bod,
but he asserted it required no skill t
do that.
, Those who saw the fight declar
} that Hermann displayed surprisin
lack Of aggressiveness, that after
. minute or so OF whirlwind fighting h
invariably sought cover and did nc
follow up his two knockdowns of tn
{ champion. 1t might be mentione
j that when the pair met year ag
Recap was the third man in the rim
and gave Williams the decision whe
G all the spectators believed Herman
/ was entitled to it.
v However, all arguments aside, Hel
: mann now is champion by virtue {
2 the decision. 1t would be only fa
h that he give Williams a return battl
i at an early opportunity, although j
: declares he will not defend his tit
h for at least a year. He plans to pic
off some of the grapes from vaud'
vile engagements and William
"Kewpie" Ertle and frankie Burn
as well as other championship aspi
S ants, will have to wait until he
i. ready to meet them.
y incidentally, a little sidelight Q
y y how the new king acts in the rim
: should be interesting in view of II
:, fact that outside Of few short el
!. gagements in the east, which faile
y to attract attention, he has not di
- played his wares in many places ou
a y side OF his home city. RED" Dola
. now of Chicago, but who often boxt
4 with Pete while down south, has til
to say Of him:
"He is a wonderful two-handt
n fighter. He started as a bootblat
and acquired a reputation as a goc
boy in rough and tumble scraps b
fore he actually became a pugilis
Like his countryrnan, Johnny Dunde
Hermann is a regular jumping -jat
in the ring. When he first startt
frankie Burns stopped him in twel'