The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
BOXING BILL
FOR NEW YORK
Next Session of Legislature
Will Consider Legalizing
Professional Bouts.

new 1OrK, Lee. l9.-At the next SeS-
sion of the legislature in January
there will be introduced a bill once
more legalizing professional boxing
in the Empire State. Though the
Frawley law. which was repealed less
than eight months ago, has been of
the books only since November Is.
the sweeping sentiment in this State
favoring the restoration of legaliZed
boxing has been such that the re-
enactment OF law putting boxing in
this State on a legal basis cannot
longer be delayed.
When the Frawley law passed out
Of existence. William A. Rafter,
sporting editor of the Brooklyn Stand
ard Union. sought the views OF every
legislators, officials and prominent
men of every other State in the Union
upon the subject OF boxing; did they
approve of it or did they disapprove
of it? That was the gist of the let
ter sent out by Mr.. Rafter.
Responses came back from every
part of the country. The New York
legislators. almost to a man, came
out unqualifiedly for boxing. So did
former Presidents Taft and Roosevelt;
United States Supreme Court JUS
tees, Cabinet Officers, United States
Senators, Representatives. political
leaders; men in every walk of life, OF
fetal and civilian, came out so strong
ly for the restoration of legalized box
ing in New York State and the plac-
ing Of boxing throughout the nation
on recognized footing, that 1t is now
apparent that IL the will OF the peo-
pie is to be met with, boxing will
once more be placed on a legal basis
in this State and made a national
sport throughout the country with no
prejudices against it whatever.
Heading the list Of endorsers of
boxing are found former Presidents
Roosevelt and Taft. Former Presi-
dent Roosevelt said In his personal
reply to Mr.. Rafter: 81 have never
been able to sympathize with the out
cry against prizefghting. Most GER
tainly. prizeflghting is not half so
brutalizing or demoralizing as many
forms of big business and of the legal
work carried on in connection with
big business. I have always regard
ed boxing as a first-class sport.
whether professional or amateur. 1
shall always maintain that boxing
contests themselves make good,
healthy sport"
Ex-President William Howard
Taft said in his reply: 81 think box
ing is very admirable exercise.
tried it for several years when in
college, and thought had derived
benefit from it."
Adjt.-Gen. Austin A. Parker. an
swering Mr.. Rafter's query in be-
half of the War Department, said:
Boxing forms a valuable part of
the training of a soldier in the de-
velopment of those qualities which
are essential to efficient fighting
men. It also provides a wholesome,
recreative sport and means a diver
sion in camp"
Even Governor whitman, who
made the determined and successful
fight against the Frawley law, could
not deny that boxing was a bene-
ficial sport, for he so states In his
reply to Mr.. Rafter: us is very like
ly that boxing is one OF the best
exercises to put men in good physi-
cal condition"
Speaker Champ Clark Of the
House OF Representatives replied,
favoring boxing: II think boxing is
a fine exercise for boys, especially
town boys or city boys. Anything
that Develops the mind or body is
good exercise"
Supreme Court Justice g. d. B.
Hasbrouck, of Kingston, of the New
York supreme court, said: From
the standpoint Of a fighter I should
very much favor having every SOL
der cultivated to his finger-tips so
that he could lick his weight in
wildcats"
Gov. Walter z. Edge, of New Jer-
sey, says: II heartily approve of
boxing, not only as means of
health, recreation and bodily vigor,
but also as Of tremendous value in
maintaining and improving the
morale of men in training camps"
Secretary of Commerce William
c. Redfield says: Boxing bouts are
valuable for training men in their
judgment OF distance, which Is of
utmost Importance to men who may
be relying upon their skill with the
bayonet to win a fight. Boxing de-
velops the same set of muscles
which our soldiers will need to have
trained to become expert bayonet
fighters"
United States Senators James W.
WadsworthI of New York; William
M. Calder. of New York; Bert NJ.
Fernald, Of Maine: Harry s. New, of
Indiana; Francis E. Warren, of wy
oming; John W. Weeks, of Massa-
chusetts; BENJAMIN r. Tillman, Of
South Carolina; George F. Cham
berlain, of Oregon; Reed Smoot, of
Utah; and Hoke Smith, of Georgia,
replied that. they approxed of boz
ing.