Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-02
FIGHTS
NOT Permitted
IN BOXING BILL
Mayor Smith Does Not Oppose
Boxing; IdeaIiSm Of Fam
atiCS Would Hinder
All Progress.

"Commereialism," is the cry
raised by the long haired fanatics
opposing House Roll So, to legalize
boxing in Nebraska. A minister in
talking about the bill said, Il am
afraid the churches will next be
legislated out of business, II there
is not some commerciaHsm in every
activity there is no activity.
Churches, like boxing, cannot exist
on the applauds of the audiences"
While 50 per cent of the states
in the union are urging the passage
of measures to legalize bouts from
10 to 20 rounds Nebraska has to
plead to secure the passage Of
measure endorsed and its passage
urged by organizations heretofore
opposed to all previous legislation
Of this kind.
The Nebraska measure contains
the strictest regulations ever placed
upon the statute books Of any state.
incorporated in the measure are all
suggestions made by Y. M. c. A..
K. of c. and Amateur Athletic
union officials. These men have un-
doubtedly conducted with wonder
full success more boxing bouts in
the past year in army camps than
every man in the state who opposes
the bill has ever seen.
Mayor Smith For Boxing.
Mayor Smith of Omaha, who was
reported as opposing legalized box
ing, in an interview said. Il am
not opposed to clean boxing bouts
anymore than / would be to wrest-
ling, racing or any other sport
am opposed to legalizing prize
fighting in the state of Nebraska.
If the present measure will pro-
hibit brutal prize fights I can see
nothing wrong with it."
Questioned to whether he could
suggest any changes in the, word
ing of the measure which would
insure that the objectional features
would not creep in he said Il do
not know enough about the sport
to make any suggestions. You
sporting men knew more about
what constitutes a prize fight than
| do. If this will keep men from
knocking another man senseless
when they are in no shape to de-
fend themselves can see no OBJ
lection to il"
Not Prize Fiehtino
A feeling seems to exist in the
minds of many that the measure
before the legislature was submitted
to legalize prize fighting. The
measure was not submitted with
this intent in mind and every pre-
caution has been taken to prevent
After the original draft 81 the
measure was made it was sent to
Dr.. George ]. Fisher, director Of
athletics for the Young Mems
Christian association, and William
| ]. Mulligany director for the
Knights Of Columbus. These men
eliminated objectional features and
added regulations to prevent The
sport from becoming too severe
These corrections are now iilcor-
porated in the bill, which has been
endorsed by both men as well as
other leaders in athletic activities
in all parts Of the United States.
These men, who have spent a life
time in the athletic field and are
the greatest advocates of clean
sports, advocate the passage Of the
measure. Money could not buy
their support. They have no Ser
sonal interest in the matter outside
of the physical upbuilding of tie
young men Of the nation. THEFT I'M
| preludiced support should convince
| the skeptical that the measure Il
clean and will fulfill the need for
which it was introduced.