Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-13
CAN'T BOX HERE,
MUST CARRY GUN
FOR PROTECTION
Nebraska SoIons Show Sad
Lack Of Sportsmanship in
Shelving Bill to Le-
galize Boxing.
BY KID GRAVES.

\ great NUMBER OF people oDleCt
10 being called Sports but not
one in hundred but likes to be re-
ierred to as real sportsman" 1t
has been amply proven within the
past week that we have no sports
men in the Nebraska legislature.
When Gene Melady, local business
man, secured Barton Green 70 spon-
sor his boxing bill in the house,
prospects for its passage looked
bright. Other states fell right in
line when the Nebraska bill was
first mentioned and over a dozen
legislative bodies had boxing meas
ures before them. Most OF them
we're put over, even the women vot-
ing for it in Idaho.
How different in Nebraska The
Melady bill was discussed pro and
Scn for long time and some OF
his fellows advised Green that the
bill had no chance for passage un-
less the "commercialism was elm
mated Green tore the bill apart
and presented a ridiculous inca sure
permitting boxing with l0-round
limit, providing that no more than
100 persons were admitted, aud no
admission fees were to be charged.
That, to the Lancaster county Of
tlcial, seemed the way to take out
the commercial part OF boxing.
rhey had quite battle about it,
but finally it was put across in the
house, SO late in the session that
it had no chance in the higher body
unless it was skinned over, so the
ultimate result was no great sur
prise to followers of the game.
Despite the recommendation OF
the house, as committee OF the
whole, the senate voted to postpone
the bill indefinitely. That is para
mount to killing the measure, for IT
will never be brought out for an
other vote. 1t means that the boys
who entered the army and navy
IRON this state, and going into the
service. learned the value of boxing
as a conditioner for sterner work
and the rudiments of the game. have
to do without this sport. Uncle
Sam endorsed boxing and all his Of
fcials boosted the ring game. 1t
was made part of the daily drill
in both the army and navy, and yet
state legislature (small in size,
compared to the great force in
charge of military affairs of the ma
ticn) has by its action declared that
it is not proper sport to be IN
dulged in Nebraska.
In the state of New York. a bill
modelled after the original Melady
bill. except for the substitution of
a l2-round limit instead of six has
passed the upper house of the legis-
lature. In New York, the measure
is known as the Gibbs bill. They
will have the dozen round argu-
ments and the referee will render a
verdict at the end of the contest.
The New York legislature didn't
turn that bill over to any committee,
it was brought right out on the floor
and presented for argument and it
brought but very little in the way of
objections. In the Empire state,
there are some real sportsmen in the
lawmakers chairs.
Some time ago, bunch of dis
charged soldiers made the state
ment that they would be willing to
go on record as Directing 70 any
action by the legislature that would
prevent boxing in this state. Just
what will be done is not known at
present, but, Judging by the discom-
hted expressions OH some of them,
they are mad enough to do most
anything at all to get legalized box
ing here. Under the present law,
you can not even 60 down
into your own basement with
friend and spar a little. If YOU do,
you are liable to arrest A fine
state OF affairs. You don't dare
teach your children how to defend
themselves. If you do it you will
he violating the law. Show state
officers that you have good reason
for it and you can be licensed to
carry . gun, and having your IL
cense you can learn to shoot, but
you can't go to the court and get
license that will permit you to
learn to box, and thus defend your
self in case of necessity
The question now arises, since
we are to be deprived of boxing for
lie Text two years, will we have
it after that time has elapsed? Will
we have legislature with enough
sportsmen in it after the next cleo
ton to give us legalized boxing?
If the state solons are in doubt
whether the people really want box
ing or not, why not arrange to have
it brought to popular vote? The
people would very soon vote tc al
low the game. A local option law
would satisfy those towns where
they didn't want it. They wouldn't
have to have it under such law.