The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-28

The patience of Job might have been exhausted had his inflictions continued to torment him a bit longer, and so 1t has proven with Tommy Tompkins. The befreek- eled manager of Claude Wilson has stood the maledictions heaped upon his head until he can stand no more, and Wednes- day he typed the following let ter to the sporting editor of The Age-Herald, which speaks for It. self, more CT less, of the indig- nation the lanky contemporary of Dave Evans feels at the way he has been treated:
 June 27. 1923. "Mr. Marvin Mccarthy, Sports
 Editor, Age-Herald.
 Dear Sir: In reference to the unpleasant ending of the Bir- mingham Athletic clubs boxing show last Monday night I would like to state that I think I have been unjustly criticized and be- lieve I was absolutely right in my argument that Dave Evans should not be allowed to coach his boy from the sidelines.
 When one considers that the Wilson-Proto fight means every thing to both boys in their ring careers in Birmingham, it should be easily understood why l was unwilling to let Wilson g6 on at disadvantage. He would have been fighting two men, so to speak, the brawn of Proto and the brains of Evans.
 q have trained Wilson to fr~A l. l.
 rounds, and he relies on his own resOurcefulness and ability to win his bouts. If Evans has taught PrOtO to fight as an autO- matOn, then it's unfortunate. If PrOtO hasn't the reasoning power to fight his own scraps, how can Evans or anyone else hope to have the recognized rules of box ing suspended for his benefit.
 Evans knew that the practice of coaching his boy from the ringside was illegal When Proto met Silvers at Atlanta some time ago, Evans created quite a bit of excitement when he demanded that he be allowed to coach from Proto's corner during rounds. Of course, those Atlanta officials refused to all low anything of the kind, and the result was decisive. Proto was knocked out in five rounds by youngster who is far from being a champion.
 Tommy On the Rock.
 Tt seems that certain critics have lined up solidly against Wilson, and inference has even been made that Wilson-who has whipped men who probably could knock Proto out with one punch-is afraid to meet Dave Evans boy.
 Such accusations are so unfair as to he ridiculous, and unless the accusers have as little pow CTS of disccrnment as their arr Euments indicate, they cnn easily see that Wilson hns no reason on earth for being afraid of PrOtO, the mnn who was knocked out by a beginner, and who lost the verdict to preliminary kid from Memphis only recently.
 "If fandGm will remember. sometime ago I allowed myself to be quoted to the effect that I considred the bout so one-sided that I didn't want to put 1t on. I still feel that way, but If there is one man in Birmingham who thinks Wilson Is afraid, then that convinces me that the bout should be staged.
 "Let Dave Evans back his talk up with action now. If he will have the bout turned over to proper promoters, find place for staging 1t, and put up cash forfeit that Proto will fight, I am willing to make an important concession or two on my part to have the bout go through.
 "The promoters, of course. would draw up a set of regula- tions for the bout. and if they are at all reasonable. I am will ling to place my cash forfeit that Wilson will fight.
 Its up to Evans now. They say Wilson Is afraid. let them show their 'guts' and put their