Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-19
UPD|KE BOXING BILL
Favored BY GROUP
louise Judiciary SubCommit-
tee Holds Hearing on
Measure.

4 Favorable report will be made to-
ntprrow at the meeting of the House
District committee following hearing
Hoday before the judiciary subcommit-
tee on the Updike bill to iegalize anna
teur boxing in the District of Column
bia. This measure is identical with
one which has already passed the SEN
ate. Canon William Sheafe Chase of
Brooklyn and other prominent men
supported this legislation. Canon
Case said: Il boxed as a boy, and 1
love amateur boxing. My sympathies
are largely with this bill. The element
OF prize fighting has been eliminated.
Let us keep true sports of this kind
In America"
Allston D. Calhoun, jr., a George
town law student, presented the wit
nesses. He stated that two years ago
he entered Georgetown Law School and
that his experience shows that money
must be had to buy materials in any
line of sport and that this bill will
enable boxing meets to be held with
absolute safety. He presented letter
from Gen. Anton Stephan, president OF
the Merchants and Manufacturers AS
ISOLATION, indorsing the Updike bill and
stating that he is heartily in sympathy
with its purposes.
Harvey Miller. representing the Dis
trict Department of the Veterans OF
Foreign Wars and the American
Legion, said that both organizations are
on record in favor of boxing and would
prefer l0-round bouts and that there
should not be strict prohibition
against professional bouts. but that
they are behind this measure because
1t seems to be the best one that Con-
gress will authorize.
Judge Complete Record"
"This is fundamentally clean
sport" he said, land breeds fine quail
tiles in men. Boxing is the only thing
that a man can learn for himself Tor
self-protection and boxing should not
be Judged by the black spots but by its
complete record"
James A. Mcnamara, representing
Georgetown University and the Jewish
Community Center, emphasized that
no money is allowed for boxing, al
though foot ball. basket ball and other
sports are on paying basis. Tnere
are no paid admissions and no paid
officials, he pointed out, and for this
reason Georgetown may abolish Dox-
ing this year. He emphasized that IN
the Army, Navy and Marine Corps
boxing as a means of teaching SELF
defense is compulsory. He stressed
that wrestling is permitted here, al
though nine-tenths of the wrestling
bouts ARE not on the level"
Chairman Mcleod said that he and
Representative Lampert would like to
have legislation passed providing for
10 rounds instead of 4. but Mr.. Call
houn said that such bill never would
pass Congress.
Holds Change Would Defeat Bill.
Charles L. Ornstein, secretary of the
Amateur Athletic Union, said that amy
change in the bill to extend the num-
Der of rounds would jeopardize it and
the legislation would go down to de-
feat" He notified the committee that
Deets Picket of the Methodist Board
of Temperance and Public Morals is in
favor of this legislation.
Prof. T. j. Kavanaugh of Catholic
University, chairman of the faculty
committee on athletics at Catholic Uni
versity, said that there Is much less
chance of student being injured with
eight-ounce gloves than on the foot ball
field. People who know how to box
do not mix up in street brawls," Prof.
Kayanaugh said.
Mr.. Ornstein said that none of the
AZ States bars amateur boxing as does
the District of Columbia.
H. j. Odenthal, executive secretary of
the City Club, said that organized
Washington is unalterably opposed to-
professional prizef1ghting. The only
way that outside talent can be attracted
here is to show them the town. because
the giving of prizes is prohibited. He
argued in favor of awarding trophies
and not cash prizes.
Daniel j. Ferris, national secretary of
the Amateur Athletic Union, also in
dorsed the bill