The Washington herald., 1917-12-16
new DISTRICT
BOXING BILL
Many Lawmakers In Favor
Of Manly Art-BM Has
Good Chance.

Before the present session Of Con-
gress adjourns a determined effort
will be made to legalize boxing exhi-
bitions in Washington.
The bill which will be introduced
for that purpose will be patterned af-
ter the Wisconsin boxing law. permit
ting limited bouts under official super
vision of an athletic commission.
War has done more than any other
agency in making the NIT game take
its proper place in the public mind
and the narrow-minded sentiment
! that has blocked such legislation in
the past has largely vanished. with
every prospect Of success OF a District
boxing bill.
Before the war called 81, 900 Of the
healthiest and best boys of America
to the colors, the belief Of many I'M
informed and others misinformed was
that the manly art was a sport in
dulged in mainly by plug-uglies and
thugs.
The boxing game was held up as g
profession followed chiefly by bar
room flies and ruffians and advocates
of legislation that would legalize pub,
lie exhibition of those proficient ir
the use Of the gloves were objects oi
| suspicion and abuse.
Howevr, since the Y. NJ. c. A has
officially recognized the sport in tbs
big cantonments OF the national army
the emptiness of the opposition has
become apparent. 1t has been a com
mon thing in the military camps tC
stage bouts between the soldier boy,
and boxing has become one OF the na'
tional sports OF the men in khaki
Mothers and sisters Of the soldier.
have witnessed their relatives learn,
ing the rudiments OF the manly art
and have discovered that the sport is
not degrading. but on the contrary
made for a more vigorous and
healthy manhood.
The government has officially rec.
ognized the sport by assignment oi
professional boxing instructors q
each OF the army camps and Benny
Leonard, the lightweight champion
gave an exhibition Of his ring ability
on the Washington monument ground.
before a crowd OF 1000 capital resi-,
dents, many Of whom were women
This exhibition was officially undel
| the direction Of the Commission or
Training Camp Activities.
With such an imptus the chances oi
success for a bill legalizing boxing il
the District are particularly bright al
this time. Among the legislators oi
prominence on Capitol Hill who ia
vor boxing as a national sport i:
Champ Clark.
Speaker Clark comes out openly FOL
boxing. The Speaker states that IL
his opinion boxing is especially good
for the country boys as well as thos,
of the city. Congressman Henry T
Rainey. of Illinois considers boxing
worthy Of encouragement as a sport
for the country.
Congressman Fred T. Blackman, oi
Alabama. member OF the committee
on postoffices and post roads, think,
boxing particularly beneficial TO sol
diers, and sees no reason why II
should not prove Just as beneficial tC
civilians
IN our age of progress our up-to,
date people must face TO the front in
all things, and must consider boxing
great developer of body and mind,
is what Congressman D. A. Hollings
worth, of the Eighteenth CongressIon,
al District, Of Ohio, thinks.
Congressman Richard Olney, Of thC
Fourteenth Congressional District o.
Massachusetts, says: Il do counter
ance boxing under proper regulation
as worthy of encouragement as 4
sport for the nation"
Congressman Clarence B. Miller, O,
Minnesota, has made a tour OF the en-,
tire battlefront in Europe, and III
found the British soldiers being train
ed for trench warfare by being taught
the art of boxing as a means Of at
tack and defense in this close hand
to-hand fighting.
Congressman Andrew J. Montague
of Virginia, favors boxing. So doc.
Congressman William L. Mason, or
Illinois. Congressman 1. d. Robin
son, of North Carolina. is in favor oi
boxing, and likewise Congressman ]
Hampton Moore, of the Third Distric
OF Pennsylvania.
All these Congressman are firm be
levers in the manly art of self-de
fense and would like TO see the Law
make it a national sport.
Two previous attempts to dignity
the sport in the District by, the pas
sage Of a boxing bill perished in thS
pigeon holes Of a committee desk
There was no effort made to push
them, in view Of the active opposition
that was ready to hold the sport ur
to severe criticism. This opposition
has disappeared, however, and it is
now believed that IL the measure
reaches the floor Of the Senate and
the House, the chances OF success are