The Minnesota fiery cross. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1924-19??, 1924-03-14

Dearborn Independent developes a
sport story from an entirely differ
.ent angle. 1t will give the reader
sorsething to think about, which is
more than car be said about the av-
erage sport story.
The possible repeal of the Walker
law, which permits boxing contests
TO be given in New York state and
decisions rendered constitutes the
element Of tragedy in the death of
frankie jerome, as far as sporting
Manhattan is concerned.
1t must be understood in the be-
ginning that there is no such thing
these days as a prize fight. That is
old stuff and belongs to the period
when pugilists fought with bare
knuckles or skin-tight gloves which
had the cutting power of a razor.
Heenan, Merrissey, Kilrain, Sullivan,
Mitchell, FitZsimmons, and Peter
Jackson were fighters. The midgets
and the giants who wallop each other
in public nowadays are never, never
fighters. Their designation depends
on the law of the state or city where
they happen to be performing. Where
athletic events are permitted within
the squared circle, pugilists are ath-
letes. Where boxing contests" are
sanctioned they are by statute, box
ers.
1t must be plain, therefore, that
whatever legislative action may take
place which will spoil boxing graft,
it cannot be on the grounds Of prize
lighting Even state lawmakers can
not perform impossibilities. They
cannot destroy what does not exist
and to such depth of national by
pocrisy have we fallen, that we still
refuse to call things by their proper
names. There are no such things as
prize fights" either in Manhattan or
outside of it. There are only "boxing
contests" in which men are bloodied
beyond viewing, knocked into uncon-
seriousness, and occasionally killed
all that a few parasites, mostly
may live on the best without
earning the meanest, and that our
prehistoric blood lust may be ap-
peased. Unlike the barbarian who
was proud of his animal achieve
ments, we are so cowardly that we
refuse to mention our bad habits by
name.
Strange to say, the agitation for
the stoppage of the fight graft in
does not come from that
group called the "Blue
Law fanatics" Any person who at
tempts to kill petty larceny theft
(which our slanguage calls "graft")
is in the eyes of the CRATER of the
is in the eyes of the CRATER or the
He is responsible for everything
which the individuals, whose sole
idea of liberty is to make money off
else without working too
hard, describe as "the Limitation of
personal liberty" For once, how
ever, the B. L. F. is admittedly I'M
concerned in the repeal of the
Walker law.
A group of politicians which is
outside the existing monopoly is bent
IN destroying the monopolists even
T they have to kill boxing" to do
It. With them it is case of LET
is in on the core or there amt
going to be no core" and hell hath
10 fury like a politician cheated out
# his rightful whack at the loot.
Since the Walker law was passed,
he Temple of Swat for Manhattan
las been Madison Square Garden,
which is leased by Tex Richard. Who
lis associates are is not public prop
,rty but it is alleged that they are
If sufficient Importance to enable
he Garden to remain the only big
boxing" club in the city. Every
match of Importance is held there,
he biggest stakes are offered there, |
he champions, with few exceptions,
,ox for Richard and for Richard
'nly. There are some scattered
lrenas where Contests" are held, |
tut the contestants are the small fry
# the fighting sea and they exists
imply because on the nights for |
which they have cards" the Garden |
S dark. Not only does Richard stage |
he only important indoor exhibit
ions, but he dominates completely |
he outdoor affairs which are the |
eally great money makers. Justly |
n unjustly he is said to be the Box
ng Trust of Greater New York and |
Brooklyn, and he has made enemies
~ reason of his alleged control of
he sport"
Still another factor has forced pub
ic consideration of the graft. That |
5 the succession of astounding deci-
ions rendered by the judges of the
ontests, the conduct of the weigh
ng in" process by the officials con-
erned with that department of the
sport" the summary treatment of
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