Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-02
Sport Is Tubbed, Rubbed,
Scrubbed and Turned Out in
Clean, Wholesome Condi-
ton, Says Critic.

SINCNis "it0tSo0ii'S SSiN'
ton, Says Critic.
With the definite announcement
that Barton F. Green of Lincoln.
will introduce in the Nebraska legis.
lature a measure legalizing boxing
contests. interest in what soldiers
think of the game with brutality
eliminated is keen. The Melady bill,
as the measure is best known, has
received favorable comment for the
reason that the undesirable features
have been prohibited.
The following from the London
Times of December II on the eve
of the inter-country bouts for the
kings trophy, shows the cordial
manner in which the card was re-
ceived by the English public and the
gentlemanly manner in which the
boxers conducted themselves.
To-day, in the Albert hail, boxing
as a sport is to receive the public
recognition that it ought to have
deserved a decade and longer ago.
The tournament for the Kings tro-
ply is open to the British empire
and American services, and the
bouts begin at 2:30 p. M; the pro-
gram for the evening will be opened
at $780, The king has expressed
the hope that tomorrow he himself
may be present to hand the magni-
hcent shield, which he is giving to
the winning team.
THE finest opponents Of boxing
will be included in the teams that
have entered the tourney. The lead
ers of those teams are permeated
by the spirit which few games other
than boxing can inspire; the rivalry
between the different camps is
stronger and (dare we who love the
game say IT'D cleaner than any
that one may find i'll political war
fare. Even we. who quilted an &C
tive part in the game many years
ago and may serve now only as
chroniclers, are conscious OF quick
er ebb and flow in our veins; there
is joy indescribable in the cherished
belief that, if only we could bring
ourselves to train for little while.
we might go four rounds with the
best of them.
Wholesome New Rules.
"The tournament which begins to-
day differs from any boxing tourna-
ment that has been held. Those re-
sponsible for the arranging of the
event may be said to have taken
the sport and boldly tubbed it. and
scrubbed it. and turned it out as
clean and wholesome as it is pos
sible to make it. They have purged
it of almost every vice that has
been associated with it sin = the
day of the 'Corinthian' ana the
amazingly plucky. yet too often, de
grading knuckle fights.
New rules have been drafted;
new and drastic laws will minimize
the possibilities of fouling, certain
eliminations will save the courag-
eous but outclassed boxer from un-
necessary punishment. Take that lat
ter suggestion, for instance, and
maybe an idea of the whole Of the
changes, or at least the trend Of
them, is gained. There is to be no
calling of the count; when a boxer
has gone down from a blow the
count will be silent one Many .
game fellow has strained his ears
for the count and by sheer will
power struggled to his feet at eight
only to receive a harder and more
Furnishing blow while in a dazed con-
dition. The silent count will pre-
vent that, because a man will not
know how long he has been down
until he hears the out, or is lifted
by his seconds.
Again there is to be no clinching.
Those fans as our American
friends designate the spectators.
who have been bored almost to
tears by hugging matches. will re-
joice when they learn of this change.
and to those who know that the ma
jority of fouls (undetected) arc
committed in the clinch there will
come relief.
The Sport in the Army.
Yesterday | visited the British
team at Aldershot and enjoyed the
privilege of long conversation on
boxing with Col. R. B. Campbell,
himself a navy and army champion
of ten years ago. Colonel Campbell
with Capt. H. Bruce Logan (the
leader of the British team, returned
only a few weeks ago from France
to organize the tournament We
talked about the methods OF the old
days and the hopes for the new. 1t
is recognized that during the last
four years boxing did more for the
soldiers in the field than any other
sport.
"I have known them to come out
tired from a battle and seek and
gain rest in a boxing bout Thus
Colonel Campbell, who is wonder
fully optimistic about the prospects
Of his team capt. Bruce Logan de.
serves success for the men under
him, even if it should be denied
with the assistance of the incompar,
able Jim Driscoll, now C.S.M.L.