Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-29

AlE AtkdttAltS RAsiN tAtfN1 Ntffl S'ihN
on for some time in public hall
in this city. would like 10 ask
what will be done for the men
most of them young-who found
amusement to their liking at these
contests of strength, skill and en-
durance. and now find themselves
deprived of their favorite diver
sion? What will be offered them
in it's place?
"of course, some viii be dis
posed to answer that the church,
the prayer meeting. the Sunday
schools. perhaps the movies and
the authorized amusements at the
public parks, win be sufficient for
these young men. But it may be
that none of the other attractions
will take the place of boxing con-
tests in their affection.
80 here we viii have the addi-
tion to what may be determined
the 'disaffected class'--which is
quite extensive in these times
OF several hundred young men who
believe they have been unjustly
deprived Of what they consider a
proper and lawful amusement.
And certainly It could not be
classed as an unlawful diversion,
as it was in no sense prize fight
ing, which is prohibited in our
State by, law.
Many of these young men are
youths of promise, just entering
upon manhood. at the formative
period, as it were. How win their
loyalty. their interest in civic con-
Germs, be affected by this inter-
ference Of the law with their
amusement, which they looked
upon as just and legitimate. VIII
the situation be one that will en-
hance their respect for law?
1T may well be said that the
time has come to consider whether
it is not becoming somewhat dan
gerous to interfere with so many
things that people have long
looked upon as their rightful pre-
negatives, especially in a matter
of this kind, which is not open TO
the charge of law-defiance or dele
terious effects. For there is dam
ger In such situations.
And meanwhile. what will be
offered to these young men in rep
aration for the amusement the
have thus been summarily de-
prived of?
Lover of Sports"
This. gentleman differs with tn
views which we expressed on thi
subject yesterday. AS an America
citizen he has a right to his opinions
but we believe that If we will stud
this matter in the proper light tha
he viii reach the same conclusion tina
we did--namely, that licensed ,boxin
usually degenerate into priz
fights. conducted by low set Of me
who make a specially of touring tn
country with cheap fighters who de
bauch every community which she
visit. Knowing our correspondent q
We do. we viii wager that he ha
not seen boxing match or "priz
fight" within the past 10 years. There
fore he is discussing the matter aca
demically. But. as Grover clevelan
said, 1T is condition. not theor.
that confronts us"
We do not say that all the fight
held in Wilmington recently have bee
But certain ones did nc
add 10 the glory Of the game. Alread
an undesirable class of people has be
gun to enter the city for the purpos
Of staging scraps with cheap fight
ers who are known to be willing /
throw" match SO that their bet
ting hackers may clean up the town.
as they say.
1t has been the experience OF ever
State which has permitted 'boxin
exhibitions" TO be held that eventual
the sport centres into the hands OF
few promoters of this calibre who IN
a. disgrace TO true sportsmanship. S
Louis. Nashville, Atlanta and a scor
Of cities which We could mentio
have had their bitter experiences wit
these gentry.
1t is not the clean group Of hom
talent that we objeqt to; it is thes
crooks who have been run out Of CHI