Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-23
A. to osxIna.


At tie Yisk Of startling some OF eur
friends we do not endorse the petit
ton presented to the Augusta CITY
C,unci. Monday evening praying Tor
the aiscontinuAace Of ..oxine matches
within the city limits The Kenne-
bee Journal does rot Intend to be-
come a promoter but there is side
to the matter which We believe
should be stated in fairness TO the
lovers Of sports.
Boxing when properly conducted Is
Is legitimate. as manly. as healthful,
as good training for mind and mus
cles and &C exhilarating TO the spec
tator as baseball OF football. rowing
or fencing or any other sport. Like
wise there is just as much opportu-
nifty fer poor spoFtsmanship, brutal
fly. corruption and gambling in these
sports as IN boxing.
4 boxing match 10 between two
men only. takes place in full. open
view of the audience and must be
conducted in fairness or the audience
win protest Far from developing
brutality in a man. boxing compeis
him to- keep his temper. his nerve
and his head. When a contestant
loses eont-o. Of himself he finds
himself pat cut. There are rules TO
which the contestants agree and
which they obey il they are good
sportsmen.
The respeetabiiity Of boxing as a
speYsis attested by the fact that it is
q regular part OF college athletic
training. that il Is approved by all
army training camps and that It has
been the favor!te diversion of some
great men, notably Colonel Roosevelt.
The soldier boys who have returned
from France enjoyed boxing over
there with full approval Of their Of
fcers. II was looked upon as clean
form of sport. as legitimate as any
offered. While the Third Maine
regiment was at Camp keyes the
past summer. boxing matches were
conducted with the approval Of the
commanding officers and were order
j.. clean and enjoyable.
Normal young men must nave
some outlet for their energies. Cut
OFF from, one. they will seek another,
perhaps less attractive and more
likely to be harmful. Straight laced
puritanism Is as bad as callous in
difference.
Testimony of leading citizens o!
Augusta who arc not ashamed TO sd
NIT having attended the boxing
matches a. City Hall is that they are
conducted in an orderly manner and
witnessed By an orderly gathering CT
As they are so conducted there
seems to be no. reason for Giscor-
tinuing them.
The law under which boxing
matches are conducted in this State
was passed by the Legislature OF
1907. 4 bill was introduced by Rev
Claude E. Priddy of Portland which
was drastic in its regulation OF prize
fights. At the committee hearing or
the bill Mr.. Priddy himself came for
ward with recommendations fol
amendments which were enacted :ntc
law as follows:
The preceding section shall not ap'
Ply to purely boxing contests, consistin !
of not more than six rounds. Of thref
minutes minute each: IN which new s.S,o Sss
broken: Or tampered with by pushin
back the padding from the knuckles Of
said gloves. and where there is not
Weight A y S: ans N
contestants have had . rigid physical
examination BY q reputable physician
just prior to said contest and said ply
testan,s is in good physical condition
and In which contest no decision ii
given"
q real human man and lover Of
good sport Rev. Mr.. Priddy revealed
more intimate knowledge Of boxing
than any other speaker on the bill
and said the changes he favored were
recommended by well-known boxers
and premeters. He drew the line
straight and clean between boxing
matches and prise lights. The fac,
that the entire bill with the amend
ments was the work Of a prominent
clergyman is not derogatory to the
clergy. but indicative Of a whole
some spirit Of sympathy with virile
manhood.
The petitioners who make gam
bling one reason for their prayer will
find on reading the above law that
gambling is impossible for no de-
cisions are allowed. There is moth
ing to gamble on. One may gamble
on which team will win a BAH game,
but when there is no decision to be
rendered all opportunity is removed.
We do not doubt in the least the
good faith Of the petitioners but We
do insist that clean sport. whether
baseball or boxing. Is legitimate and
proper. The burden OF proof that
the contests are being properly con-