The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-27
Ben Smith, Veteran Trainer, One of the
 Best In Harness
By JAMES J. CoRBETr

The business of managing an operatic prima donna isn't any more difficult than conditioning some prize fghters," de- clared Ben Smith, veteran trainer. Of Denver. And Smith should know quite a bit about the art of handling ring war riors, for he probably has had longer and wider experience than any man now identified with the game
 Smith whose most recent charge was Jack Dempsey, whom he trained for the Billy Miske and Bill Brennan fights, started as a trainer back in 1892. In the years since then he has handled more tnan 5O0 lighters, among whom have been Jack Dempsey, Abe Attell. Charlie hlte' sandy Ferguson, Jim Flynn, Mike C'Twin'D Sullivan, Frankie Burns. Rube Smith. Kid Parker, Frankie Connoliy. Young Corbett, Clarence English, Buddy unholz, Joe Rivers, Bill Brennan, Richie Mitchell, Jack Sharkey, Ad Wolgast. Knockout Eggers, Frankie Coney, Steve choynski, Gunboat Smith, Johnny Noye, Ray Moore, Pete Herman. George Thomp- son, Frankie Russell, Jim Barry and George Hemsic.
 DIFFERENT TYPES
 Every lighter has a different tempera- ment-everyone has to be handled differ ent,y to get the best results" declared Smith. "sor@e boys-Jack Dempsey is a line example-are so enthusiastic about keeping in physical condition that there is always the danger of their overtraining Frequently fellows of that kind are not content to follow the mapped-out pro- gramme. They don't think it is enough and want to do more.
 There is another type which is lazy and possessed of overconfidence. You have to drive those fellows, and driving is fraught with complications inasmuch as some of the boys resent being told what they should do. They frequently think that they know more than an older man with vast experience.
 UNIVERSAL RULE
 But, after all is said and done. there is one rule for handling a fighter which can be used universally And that is. re- member that every fighter, in the final analysis. is just a big. overgrown boy If you handle hin, in that way you can always get good results If he is in clined to overtrtain, you can talk gently and kindly to him. If he is lazy and doesn't want to work it is necessary to spank him in verbal way.
 Smith has made an enviable record as Ia trainer Through the years since 18G he has handled several hundred fighters. Some he trained for just one special titular bout others were under his wing for months and years, Probably in his time Smith has conditioned more than 600 battlers He has been in losing cor ners only about eight times-a most re- markable record.
 GRAND RECORD
 Smith started out as a fighter, but abandoned the ring a short time later and became manager and trainer of his younger brother Dave (.'Rube'o Smith, who developed as one of the real sensa- tions in the welterweight ranks. Rube was one of the best men of his weight 9 or 25 years ago He was always on razor edge for every contest due to the skillful handling by his brother. In the years since Rube quit fighting, Ben has been training others And the list of the men he has handled reads like the Who's Who" of pugilism.
 Smith went with Dempsey after the Brennan affair. and means to spend 8 month or so in California. He probably will condition the champion for his com 1 ing fights unless he decides to accept one of several offers to handle stable of | fighters who are mingling in the four round game on the coast.
 Copyright, 1920, by King Features Syn dicate. Inc.)