The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-11-19

there is no lack of effort on their part.
Although neither is knockout hitter
yet they fight for every point during
contest and few are the adverse verdicts
recorded against them
There has been mucn clamor against
erroneous decisions by judges In New
York State. but the effect Of the Walker
law has been salutary. No man who
enters the ring cares to have an official
decision against him, and the result II
that nearly every bout Is contested on
it's merits. Decisionless bouts are an
-linmixed evil and the comparatively few
unjust decisions in this State amount to
but a drop in bucket.
The decisonless bout had it's origin in
the "club membership days following
the repeal of the Horton law. During
the Horton law regime the referee de-
cided all contests that lasted the sched-
uled limit. When the Horton law was
repealed the club membership scheme
sprang into existence. Under this plan
members" paid club dues" In advance
of bout, and no admission fee was
collected at the doors. For some in
serutable reason 1t was decided by the
promoters not to have decisions, and
the only way in which a boxer could
win a bout was by Knockout or foul.
The result was a dreary succession 'of
contests in which honest boxing was
conspicuous by its absence. 1t was
during the club membership period that
Jim Driseoll. featherweight champion Of
Europe. proved he was the best man in
the class In the world when he drubbed
Abe Attell. American featherweight
champion, in ten round deeisionless
hcut in what is now the Pioneer Sport
ing Club. Had an official decision been
possible Driscoll would have returned TO
England as the worlds featherweight
champion. Driscoll claimed the honor
but was derived of the distinction be-
cause of the stupid rule against deci
siens.
No Decrease in Betting.
When the Frawley law was enacted.
decisionless clause was included, the
argument being advanced that it would
lessen betting on bouts. 1t is question
able II there ever was more betting ON
boxing bouts than during the life of the
Frawley law. In addition, there never
was a greater number of disappointing
bouts in which there was deliberate
dawdling by the contestants. The eYili
of the decisionless rule did not stop at
the borders of New York State: The
bOAiH6 laws III 'NirtOHhiH, ailtHlbdli,
Minnesota and New Jersey were pat
termed after. lthe Frawley law. and
those States have become the happy
hunting grounds of those boxers who
are adopts at going through with the
motions of fighting but fail to even dis
arrange an opponents hair. Not till de-
cisienless rules are completely elimi-
mated will there be honest boxing
'throughout the country.
e Decisions are given in England,
France. Australia and in fact in all
foreign countries where boxing -four
ishes, but New York. Massachusetts and
\ Louisiana are the, only States with laws
providing for decisions Decisions are
given in several Ohio cities which enjoy
local option. but non-decisions are the
rule. II the National Boxing Assoeia-
ton desires to perform a great service
for boxing 1t should induce the decision-
less States in its membership roll to
change the rule: a 49, e..