Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-19

Early indications are that the
measure will be carried unanimous
| ly and become a law. With this
probability in sight the history Of
attempts to legalize boxing and tic
mode of procedure in presenting
1.-THE present law make interesting
history in the sporting annals Of
Nebraska.
During the legislative session Of
1915 Gene Melady, a prominent live
stock commission man on the South
Side had drafted and caused to Be
introduced, bill iegalizing 10.
round boxing bouts under reguia.
ton in this state. Unable TO inter
est but few sportsmen he made
personal campaign to secure the
passage of the measure which was
defeated by two votes.
Makes Second Attempt.
Again in 1917 he had bin intro.
duced which was defeated by one
vote. The defeat Of the second
measure was largely due to the ac-
tivities of Dennis Cronin, editor OF
Il newspaper in O'Neil and personal
friend of Malady. He based his
opposition to the measure on the
ground that in the form it was pre-
scented it would be illegal. Lawyers
later verified his contention.
At the request of soldiers in army
camps, athletic clubs and others in
rerested in sportsMr. Malady again
had prepared bill for presentation
at the session this year. Profting
by mistakes in previous years he
several months ago commenced
preparation of the bill.
He secured copies Of enactments
of similar measures from all states
legalizing boxing and laws on the
sport in Australia and New Zealand
Features in the law which, to him
appeared unfavorable he marked out
or for correction and returned the
copies to the leading newspaper
sport writer's and sportsmen Of the
state with the request that they
criticize his corrections and make
any changes which their experience
showed advisable.
Best Features Used.
The best features OF each states
laws were then incorporated into a
tentative measure by firm of Onla-
ha lawyers. Copies were made and
sent to the leading sport writer's Of
the United States, Y. M. G. "A. and
K. Of c. athletic instructors il clubs
and army camps, army officers and
physical directors of the leading
athletic clubs for criticism.
Changes considered advisable BY
these men were made and the meas.
ure returned 70 the lawyers to re-
move all legal technicalities. The
measure was then sent to Barton
Green for consideration as he had
announced his intention Of introduce
ing boxing measure. II was com
pared with a measure drawn up BY
him and several others submitted
from various parts of the state. Mr..
Green then~announced that he con
sidered it the best measure ne had
ever read and introduced It this
week
Endorsed by Sport Writers.
In this manner the bill became
called in newspapers the "Melady
BilP' and sport writers, including
Ray Pearson of Chicago Tribune
and Jack Sicily OF the Workers
Herald, pronounced it the most
stringent and best boxing bill ever
presented in the United States.
1t had the endorsement and sun
port OF such men as the late Thee
dore Roosevelt, who wrote a letter
OF commendation, urging that II BE-
come law, shortly before his death.
DR.. George J. Fisher, director gem
eral of athletics for the Y. M. G. A
heartily endorsed the proposed
measure and it was at his sugces-
ton that the number Of rounds was
limited to six instead of eight as or
iginally proposed. William J. Null
llgan, chairman of the Knights Of
Columbus committee on war camp
activities, also endorsed the propos-
ed bill and urged that it be made
law for the benefit Of soldiers who
would have no other suitable form
of recreation after leaving the stren-
uous army life.
Under the present law boxing Is
prohibited in any form. School
boys in gymnasiuns, Y. NJ. C. AS,
Athletic clubs and evea friendly
bouts between farmer boys in the
haymow or behind the barn under
strict Interpretation Of the law are
violations. To relieve this condition
is the purpose of the law.
Mr.. Melady, in his desire to see
boxing law passed. acted wholly In
the interest Of clean sports. Attn.
letic contests which he has assisted
in promoting have been arranged
with the same purpose in view. He
is strictly a commission man, having
grown up in business sense In
Omaha where he started in business
20 years ago.
The measure is everybody's and
requires the support Of everyone
Interested in clean athletics. Ia As
dow at the stage where il requires
the activity of every patron Of sport
who must use their influence to see
it passed as law.