The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-20
Frederic Haslkin's Letter


morning, due TO the embarf1ss.
ment which might result from
roll call interrupting an Afternoon
class, dragging nearly naked states.
men from their violent physical q.
ertions, forcing them to dress hur.
riedly, dash over to tho Capita
and anwser to their names.
Il 10 not expected that the fuui
40 subscribers to the fund for TIA
equipment Of the gymnasium win
take advantage OF the opportunity a
coached class in physical culture
will offer them. Some of the olde,
members will not attend. and man,
Of tho house leaders contributed!
with no idea Of being able to Dc.
vote definite fraction Of their time,
to being put into good bodily trim
Captain John Craige of the mar.
inc corps, will have general super
vision OF the physical work Of the
statesmen when the class is formed
He is an overseas veteran, and now.
in addition to being one Of the aides
to Major General Lejeune, COM
mandant of the marine corps, Is
athletic officer of the corps. He,
intends to detail properly qualified
enlisted men OF the organixat1aa 4
they are found available.
A Famous Coach
CAPTAIN Craige entered the mar
Inc corps during the late war. His
prowess as an amateur boxer is
we'll known. In addition to attain,
ing laurels in this field. he assisted
in training Of three middle-weight
champions Of the world.
Boxing bids fair to take promi-
nent part in the activities of the
house gymnasium devotees. One
of the originators Of the gymna.
stun plan. Representative Britten,
has an enviable record as an anna
teur boxer, broad jumper, and
sprinter. He still keeps himself in
! firstclass shape all the time, doing
a considerable amount OF hand
ball playing and boxing.
Mr.. Britten and Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt, new assistant secretary
of the navy, have agreed to q
friendly bout with the gloves at the
| house gym. Colonel Roosevelt by
the way. is the only man outside
/ the membership of the house who
has been admitted to membership
in the gymnasium Only the fixing
of a time convenient to Secretary
Roosevelt remains in the way u
these men coming together.
Secretary Roosevelt has led the
strenuous life" advocated by his
distinguished father, and has en-
gagged in q great many glove en-
counters with the late ex-president.
However, in tackling Represents
tive Britten. he will have his hands
intentionally full, although be
will have the advantage of weight
height and reach.
| The congressman made a great
name for himself on the Pacific
coast as a youngster. He is still
remembered there as one Of the
fastest and strongest lightweight
amateur boxers that California has
produced. He came into national
notice when fighting gentleman
who rejoiced in the name OF Young
Brady at the Olympic club Of San
Francisco. in 1892. In the first
round he knocked Brady down sir
times, then knocked him out all
in the space OF one minute. and
thirty seconds.
!. At the Chicago Athletic club, dur
ing the Worlds fair games in 1897.
young Britten knocked out Jack
Mackler in IL rounds. During the
Chicago games, Mr.. Britten did not
devote himself entirely to boxing.
but by the way Of variety defeated
Crumm, the then famous Iowa
(sprinter, who subsequently was ill.,
ed for 100 yards in less than 10
seconds. Mr.. Britten also treas.
ures medals won for swimming and
broad jumping.
| Mr.. Britten received his instruc-
tons in boxing from James J. Cor
bett, former heavyweight champ
ion of the world. If, in the coming
encounter between Mr.. Britten and
the doughty Secretary Roosevelt.
one Inadvertently hits the other q
little harder than he meant to, It
is more than likely that the fur
Twill fly.