Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-12
ATHLETIC CLUB
URGE PASSAGE
OF MELADY BILL
Committee Will Meet This
Week to Discuss Plans
for Securing Success
in Legislature.

~ uhitNd uNAAaAAN OAA AAtS pau Va
Nebraskans for boxing is becoming
more and more evident as the
hour for introducing the Melady
bill draws near. Omaha sports
men from all stations of life are
unanimous for the measure. OPP
position that early developed, from
personal reasons, apparently has
been overcome and the metropolis
stands united for clean boxing.
"A committee from the Omaha
Athletic club will meet this week TO
discuss how we can best help in
securing the passage of the meas
ure," said George Brandeis. mine
ty-hve per cent of the membership
are strongly in favor of boxing and
we will do our bit to see the meas
urc carried"
Hundreds of Omaha business
men are conducting a letter CAM
paign to friends living out in the
state urging them to secure the
support of their representatives for
the measure. Delegations are be-
ing formed TO visit the capital and
urge the passage of what all declare
to be the eleanest boxing bill ever
presented.
Faith in McKelvie.
The provision that the governor
shall head the commission is re-
ceiving considerable favorable COM
mendation. Although he has never
announced his stand on the measure
Omahans feel confident that it will
be supported by Governor Nickel
vie.
with man at the head of the
commission of the caliber of Gov
ernor McKelvie, there is no ques-
ton that we will see good, clean
boxing exhibitions" said one ardent
booster of the measure. "He has
always been a clean sportsman him
self and he will see the game kept
clean and not allowed to deterior-
ate"
Few men would have the inter
est of clean sports at heart deep
enough to take two defeats and
then come up smiling and insist that
boxing should be legalized the way
Gene Melady has" said I. F. Quin-
Ian, manager of Brandeis stores.
II have Just called Mr.. Melady and
informed him that / will go to Lin
coin at any time he thinks advis-
able and do all in my power to
secure the passage of the Melady
bill.
Quinlan Likes Bill.
II have heard some objection to
the measure being called the "Me-
lady bill" Regardless of whether
the measure is known by that name
or another. to the lovers of clean
sport it will always be the Melady
bill. ! do not believe Mr.. Melady
cares by what name the measure
passes. He is too thorough sports
man for that but no name could
better mark the new era in sports
than his.
"He has willingly donated his
time and money in an attempt to
secure legislation that we all desire
Ignorance of the reformation Of
boxing is largely responsible for the
opposition. Mr.. Melady, a lover oil
sport for sports sake, has taken
note of the changing conditions. BY
attending bouts in various parts oil
the country he is probably better
informed on the Improvement in
boxing than any man in the state
and is to be commended for the
work he has done in having the
measure introduced"
Want Clean Legislation.
At Lincoln the boxing bill is a
favorite topic of conversation and
early indications point to its passage
without dissenting vote. When Z
resolution was passed prohibiting
smoking in the house of represen.
tatives a bystander was heard tc
remark, There goes the Melady
boxing bill"
An industrious worker for the
anti-smoke resolution whirled upor
him and said, 1--WE are endeavorine
to make this clean legislature. We
are in favor of clean, constructive
legislation. We will pass the Nd
lady bill for it will tend to MAKE
clean sports. Don't you think i
better to be seen attending than t.
sneak to a deserted barn. eyade thu
officers of the law, and witness ;
battle between two men in which
through neglect of physical precau
tons one is liable to be killed. Pom
der over this my man. We are ;
clean legislature and will pass ;
clean boxing bill such as will be in
| PRODUCED bv Barton Green"