The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-24
State Armory Board Refuses
Permission for Bouts Be-
tween Skilled Men.
BY CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

The hopes entertained by promoters
of boxing that the state armories would
be thrown open to them were obliterated
yesterday when the State Board of
Armory Commissioners. Gen. John F.
Organ chairman. refused permission
for any boxing contests In armories
except those In which soldiers are the
contestants, the events to be under the
management of military men. In ex-
planning their action the Armory Board
issued the appended statement:
/. Armories are constructed and
maintained promarily for the housing
and training of the military units quar-
tered therein. Any other use authorized
by law Is temporary and should in Its
nature be completely subordinate to the
needs and purposes of the military SER
vice. 1t is the belief of the members of
the commission that the large sums of
money to be gained and disbursed as a
result of the conduct of professional
boxing enterprises, the number and
character of people interested in pro-
noting such bouts. as we'll as the make
UP of the average crowd witnessing
them, would unavoidably introduce into
the life of military commands tempta-
tons, influences and an atmosphere not
only distracting TO the training of units
but out OF keeping with the ideals and
best standards of the National Guard
and Naval Militia of the State OF New
York.
Interfere with Military Duties.
2. The conduct of professional boxing
in armorles would necessitate business
relations between fight promoters and
the commanding officers of armories for
the making OF contracts and agreements
Tor the use of the armores for the con-
duct CT such bouts and the number OF
applications for such purposes and the
inves.i legations and negotiations neces-
gary In connection herewith would make
such demands upon the time of COM
manding officers of armories as would
Constitute a serious interference with
their military duties and civilian occu-
pations
3. Professional boxing in its relation
70 the proposed use of armories cannot
be considered without recognizing the
fact that among dey otees of this sport
are to be nund very large number of
irresponsible persons who would consti-
tute. in many cases at least. a consid-
cradle percentage of the audience who
you'd attend at the armories to witness
the bouts Tho presence of large num-
bers of such persons in armories would
he Objectionable and not In the interest
Of the State or of thu military and naval
forces and might constitute a menace to
good order and millte rs discipline.
The mass of men composing the Ma
tional Guard and Naval Militia are
young men. They represent, moreover,
both in thehlsei yes md in their families
the best citizenship of the STATE Their
families expect that the Influences in
and about the armories where their
.;oung men are undertaking training
shall be wholesome and uplifting morally
and socially, as well as physically. Up
to the present time such influences have
been maintained in armories throughout
he state 1t Is the opinion of the CONF
mission that the families of the young
rlen would properly object to the intro
duction of professional boxing bouts in
armories as incompatible with the STAN
dards mentioned.
Gov. Smith Approves.
A special despatch to THE HERALD
from Albany says that Gov. Smith APP