New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-03-14
PERSHING FAVORS
BOXING IN new YORK
Letter From Leader Of American
Forces Presented at Hearing

Albany, March 14-Legalizing box
ing, slain by the 1917 Legislature,
showed signs of reViving Yesterday at
the hearing before the judiciary COM
mittee of the Assembly on bill by
Assemblyman Martin McCue, which
would restore the sport to it's former
position.
There was every indication that the
majority would vote it out of COM
mittee. There was no opposition to
the measure.
Gen. John J. Pershing, commando
or of the American expeditionaryi
force in France was one of the lead
ing military men of the nation cited I'M
the proponents of the measure in fav-
or of it. letter from Gen. Pershing1
which must be unpublished, was
shown Assent lyman Charles Q.
Pratt, chairman of the committee.
Maior-Gen. John F. Organs letter
commencing boxing also was read.
Patriotism and politics ran neck
and neck throughout the arguments
for the measure. Newspapermen.
labor representatives, sportsmen ami
Just plain citizens appeared to argue
j for favorable consideration of the'I
| measure.
Security League Backs 1t.
Louis H. Healey speaking for ths%
! Public Service Reserve, acting in con-
junction with the National Security,
/ League, urged that the measure PEI
! passed because of the funds 1t wouiG
! supply to buy athletic paraphernalla
for the soldiers in the training camps.
A. provision of the measure Woutu
give 20 per cent. of the gate recelp'Si
| of all contests to the State, to %
, turned over to the military authori-
ties for that purpose while the war
lasts.
blame for the death blow dealt the|
snort a. year ago was placed directly
at the door of politics by several OF
the proponents.
"One of the former commissioners
was at least indiscreet. That's a mat
fer of record" said McCue. That's the
reason this law was repealed.
McCue made an impassioned plea
/ for the bill He declared boxing the
snort where fair play was at prem
ium accorded it in no other game
, How many times have you seen a
runner in a race eIbowed by com
petitor and that competitors friend
look upon it with PLEASURE" asked
McCue. But what happens If an Ell
bow or some trick is used III a boxing
| match Why the audience Stahua up
1 and howls at the man who had not
l played fair"
CHARLES ]. Harvey former secre-
+arv to the old boxing commissions
:, under the Frawley law before 1t was
e amended, pointed out to the commits
/ toe that under the repeal of the law
:. even the Amateur Athletic Onlonl
4 clubs were prohibited. from haV1&
= amateur bouts. He declared that
x McCue bill could give the State cleanl
+ fair sport professional and amateur
both. if it is properly admlnlstered'
Up to Commission.
cit was not properly administered
hafore - he declared. That was III
- only trouble This bill PROVIDES Ioe
ono commissioner That Will pin TN
> responsibility down. If there WerI
more than one the buck could ps
Dassed. The crux of the whole thfha
= is in the administrations
I Following up Harvey's arguments
: McCua declared that the trouble VIII
the boxing game in the past had peei
. with the Administrations some NOM
est some dishonest, most of them I'M
competent"
Among the others who appeared
II for the bill were James r. dolt&no
president Of the State FederaHop O.
labor; Assem- blyman Curley, forme1
y N..enoh1vnan John r. Powers O
e Rochester and Porter Brady, presi
G dent of the Allied Trades Council O