Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-22
Hitting the
High Spots on
? The Sporting Trail.
BY A. K. DONOVAN.

ASStoA AZ lamp 0loHt, puOilSleQ Tie
following signed statement of the
benefits of boxing as shown by his
experience in army training camps,
i'm the Chicago Tribune. With the
probability of the passage of a box
ing bill in Nebraska his experience
in the game and the benefits to be
derived are interesting.
II never, saw any boxing by pro-
fessionals and little by amateurs
until l entered Camp Grant last
year. but | have become a firm be-
lever in it, both as a sport and as
a physical exercise.
Zone of the things brought out
by the war is that outside of the
colleges and schools where a few
boys and men are taking part in
athletics there is no place in our
social or educational system where
the mass of men and boys are given
an opportunity to develop the phys
ical and mental courage which per-
sonal combat gives.
Mistake to Lose Start.
1T Will be a great mistake if we
do not take to heart the lessons
taught us by the war. One of these
lessons is that the effeminacy Of our
training for boys made our problem
of developing fighting men a doubly
difficult one.
Boxing is an ideal sport because
of the fact that it requires little
equipment, can be carried on in
small space, carries with it the need
of quick thinking and physical con-
dition. and is a sport not limited to
men of special physical ability or
special physical qualifications.
Boxing Developed Real Soldiers.
IN my opinion. boxing was the
greatest >social factor we found in
the campus for making cool headed.
confident, clean cut fighting soldiers
outof peace-trained. awkward boys.
This was early recognized by the
regular army officers and from the
outset they co-operated to the ut
most in helping us give this train
ing to the men of least courage who
needed it most.
ITO quote from a memorandum is
sued by General Barnum last VIM
ter to those colored men OF the One
Hundred and Eighty-third infantry
brigade: Boxing is essentially a
military sport and as such must be
participated in by every man Of this
command. +
This was the order to soldiers
who afterwards made that nagnifl-
cent record as part of the Ninety
second division OH the western front.
Soon Gain Ring Confidence.
AT the same time this order was
issued the colored men had to be
forced to enter the ring, but soon
they learned the confidence that
successful man needs and became
the fearless fighters who proved
their courage in France. 1t only
bears out my statement when can
say that the colored officer who
taught boxing in the Three Hun
dred and Sixty-hfth regiment. Lieut..
Alberga, was reported killed the
first time the regiment went over
the top.
Last summer we had as many as
5000 two-round bouts of two min
utes each, daily. and in all that time
we did not, to my knowledge, have
any broken bones or other serious
injuries. I consider boxing, for
sound men, as less dangerous physi-
cally than foot ball. the king of
sports.
Guard Against Old Evils.
Boxing, like many of its kindred
sports, has been killed by unscrup-
ulous promoters and greedy man
ayers, and I am opposed to any law
which would permit a relapse to old
conditions.
with a boxing commission OF
men who are not financially con-
nected with the game and whose
character and reliability are above
reproach. with rounds limited in
number, careful medical supervision,
and sizei of purses kept down. pro-
fessional boxing could be raised 10
to the level now occupied by profess
sional base ball. Amateur boxing
should be encouraged to the utmost
and every young American be given
chance to share in the physical
and mental benefits"
Melady Bill Clean.
The objectional features to pro-
fessional boxing found by Captain
0mer are all prevented in the bill
drawn by Gene Melady, promoter
and all around sportsman, to be in
troduced in the coming session of
the Nebraska lc -islature.
The bill provides stringent regu-
lation of promoters and boxers and
their managers. The INSCRIPTIONS
will be prevented from furnishing
exhibitions on account of the heavy
forfeits provided for unsportsman-
like contests. The number of rounds
are limited to discourage brutality
and medical examination is demand
ed.
Amateur boxing is encouraged as
no license fee is charged A. A. u,
Y. M. c. A. and K. of c. exhibitions.
A percentage of the gross receipts
of all contests is collected by the
state for a fund for disabled SOL
diers and sailors of Nebraska
wounded in war.
The appointment of commission
to have charge of boxing will un-
doubtedly be placed in the hands Of
Gov. S. r. McKelvie. This will i'll
sure a commission of men whose
chararter and relia bility are beyond