The New York herald., 1921-01-23
Requires Strong Organiza-
ton to Repel Attacks of
Fanatical Enemies.
JUSTLY POPULAR SPORT
COnmendable State Boards
Need Support of Powerful
National Association.
BY CHARLES f. MATHIsoN.

crcise or entertainment is a commend
able form of sport The late Col. Roose-
Welt so asserted. Gen. Pershing Is on
record with a like declaration, and Miss
Anna Morgan, a noted phanthrophst,
lot only has utilized boxing as a means
81 furthering her charitable objects but
has registered her hearty approval of
the sport.
If the distinguished persons above
quoted correctly state the case, the
question naturally arises as to the
object Of an insignificant minority in
its constant, vicious and uncallod for
assaults on this popular form of sport.
The late Col. Roosevelt, who not only
was an excellent amateur boxer but
thoroughly enjoyed witnessing bouts
between expert professionals, diagnosed
the trouble of boxing as due to mis-
management.
The Colonels opinion was based on
undeniable fact. for boxing during the
days of the Horton law was deliberately
nismanaged. The sport was handled
in deplorable manner during the life
of the Frawley law thus giving oppor-
tunity for persistent attacks These as
saults resulted in the repeal of both
The Horton and Frawley laws. With
the formation of the International
Sporting Club boxing took on a new
lease of life and the narrow minded
amazement that for once in it's history
boxing was so ably and skilfully de-
Tended that its foes were completely
routed. The passage of the Walker
law and it's capable and just admin
istration coupled with compliance with
rules by all concerned, has forfeited the
sport against future attacks In the
state.
Needs Defenders.
This gratifying result not only cor
roborated the declaration by Col Roose-
welt that mismanagement was at the
bottom of boxing's trouble, but also that
its tribulat ons were due in large meas
ure to the lack of courageous defend
ers against the venomous attacks of a
small but wei organized bard of pro-
fessional reformers. The industry or
these zealots is due in some instances
to fanatical hatred OF all forms of ra-
tional recreation that appeal to the
people Chiefly, however. the vigorous
crusades are the result Of natural de-
sire to earn their compensation. Pro-
fessional reformers do not work solely
for glory. Therefore, when the goted
cohorts deem ii necessary to accomplish
something indicative Of activity on their
part they scan the sporting horizon RI
quest of the line of east resistance.
Naturally, racing is first to attract their
behind the sport of kings warns them
that an attack in that direction would
be dangerous.
The next pastime they see is baseball
but at once they realize that natioral
associations powerful enough to carry
through Sunday playing law would be
hard to defeat.
Then they reconnoitre the football
citadel. These games, which are wit
messed by millions of people are danger
GUS and the zealots decide that they
deserve to be stopped. But here again
the powerful college organizations loom
up aggl essively. They have the support
of numberless men of great influence.
and the reformers drop football as they
would drop a piece of hot iron.
other strong sports.
Automobile racing with its thrills and
toll of death is. in the opinion of the
reformers. a sinful pursuit, and should
be prohibited Yet, the interests be-
hind that sport are too strong to be in
terfered with Other branches of recre-
ative sport are glanced at and passed
over for the same reasons that apply to
baseball and football.
Suddenly there appears before the de-
lighted vision of the reformer a picture
OF two athletes with large, soft gloves
the most humane rules that govern any
sport throughout the world. At once a
vinegary grin, cold as January sun
beam on a snowpile, relaxes the sharp
features OF the reformer. Boxing, the
Oliver Twist of sportdom. with none TO
0efend IL. is before him. Organizing his
forces he goes over the top and the
undrilled formations of defenders are
scattered i'm all directions.
That ba bpen the racf.rraut history q
boxing in America ever since the Queens
berry rules went into effect.
The outstanding lesson of the past
points to the crying necessity of an
organization like the National Boxing
Association of the United States to fight
the battles of the sport wherever and
whenever it is attacked There should
be national boxing army on the lines
of the international Sporting Club. This
national association should have COM
plete control of the sport and, by COM
pelling all concerned to obey the rules
rs laid down, enlist the support and
appreciation OF influential men who have
stood aloof in the past owing the TO
ansavory character of many of those
engaged in the business.
1t is. therefore, the duty of all en-
gagged in boxing as business. as we'll
as those who utilize it as means OF
physical exercise or as n vehicle for
entertainment, TO give their hearty slp-
port TO the National Boxing Association
of the United States. Only when this as
sociation becomes powerful enough TO
repel the attacks of the professional
rcformers will boxing take it's proper
place In the category OF vigorous sport.
Al the present time there is disposi-
tion to cavl at the prices charged at
.,oxlng entertainments, and the action
of the State Commission in setting a
---nximum limit of SIS (Which seems to
ssse been a sop to the incoming state
I-nnistrationj. has accentuated ten
dency to discrimination. IL has been the
rule In the past that an entertainer was
worth what he could draw. One film
star Is reported 10 have signed con-
stract for 100000 year. and this
caused no loud shrieks OF protest. A
baseball world series Of seven TO nine
games draws. more than half "A million
dollars Yet the public is not arouscd
70 n condition Of frenziod protest Foot
ball games draw thousands OF dollars.
and there Is no objection.
Baseball stars are sold for $3.50 600 I
and an offer OF 100000 Is made for one
player still no loud outcry. Yet, rs
soon as two worlds champion boxers
are matched for n large sum the air Is 1
filled with vitureratlvc shricks cf ragc
and protest. This Is narrow-minded dis
ufinninatior. Tho champion boxer ls mt
TO abo restricted to one attractive match