New-York tribune., 1920-02-17

w alker Bill,
Sane and Fair,
May Be Passed
Measure Most Favored Pro-
vides for l5-Round Bouts
and Decisions in New York
By w. O. Mcclellan

The state solons will lend their ears
to the pleas for rehabilitation of box
ing day, and later on the caulflower
ears will be strained for the verdict.
Those who claim to get the Legislative
trend through second sight, the oui1a
board or other devices for fathomihg
the unfathomabe, declare that 1t IS a
lead pipe cinch or something OF the
sort that some sort OF boZlng p'l'
will be passed.
The forces in favor of boxing are
headed by Major A. J. Drexel Biddle,,
late of the United States Marines and
president Of the Army, Navy and Civil
ian Board of Boxing Control. Major
Biddle is not only a two-tisted soldier
and sportsman, but he is founder OF
the Drexel Biddle Bible Glasses, ana
has found nothing'in the SCRIPTURES that
prohibits the development of a good
straight left or the encouragement OF
a hefty right cross.
Dissension in the Ranks
The bill most favored by the pro-
ponents is the Walker measure, which
permits fifteen rounds to decision by
| judges, with the referee voting if there
should be disagreement. Other bills
| limit bouts to ten and twelve rounds.
The Walker bill is sane and fair. and
should satisfy everybody interested IN
the art which reached such high
development under the guidance of the
late Marquis of Queensberry.
Some object to parts of the Walker
bill. There is the danger. If the ad-
vocates of boxing are going to start
quarreling among themselves they are
very likely to spill the frijoles all over
the marble floors of the halls Of state
j tool,f f,,I J, i'm
men from the army, the navy and the
Marines, clergymen, college men, pro
fessional men and men Of affairs. The
array will be augmented by few box
ers, managers and seconds, with squad d
of two OF referees and near referees.
Also there will be ladies auxiliary.
Reformers Are Discouraged
am told that the Amalgamated Joy
Killers are bit discouraged and that
they will not have very large delega-
tion at the hearing. They will file
their formal protest against boxing on
the constitutional ground that it iur-
nishes amusement to large numbers OF
men and some women. A few profes-
sonal reform lobbyists are slated
to make a few speeches against the
game. but the clock will be pulled as it
was during the hearing on Sunday
base ball.
Boxing came close to being re
established last year. But the solons
after passing Sunday baseball, became
so shocked at their own liberalty that
they we've afraid tc &c any further IN
the issuance of permits for New York
ers to enjoy themselves. 1t was under
stood shortly after the adjournment OF
the last Legislature that the solons
agreed to pass bill this year. Gov
ernor Smith no doubt viii sign it.
Opposition to boxing is hard to find
since the War Department took an in
terest in the sport Many people claim
the 'credit" for having killed the game
in New York. That is all bosh. The
game died an unnatural death when il
fell into the hands of the forty thieves,
made up of hy-by-night managers
promoters and politicians. II 1t should
fall into the same hands after its re-
habilitation it will be killed again. more
quickly, and this time for keeps.