The Washington times., 1930-12-16
INVITES FANS
To. EVERY
SESSION
By JACK DEMPSEY


Boxing affairs in Illinois are
governed by the most remarkable |
trio of officials ever identified
with sport. John c. Clinnin Is
chairman-a major general in the
United States Army and a bril-
liant lawyer. Fred Gardner, one
of the most conspicuous bankers
in the U. s. A., and George F.
Getz, who could sign a check for
$50, 900, 900 or more, are his asso-
ciates.
These three men have a hun
dred and one outside business in
terests that demand their time.
Yet they are so fond Of boxing,
so eager to keep its honest and
have the sport conducted along
craftsmanship lines, that they
sacrifice opportunities to add to
their fortunes so that they can
devote every needed moment to
boxing.
Invite Fans TO Sessions
They conduct boxing in Illinois
these three men-in q way that
differs radically from so many
other commissions. They regard
it as something that belongs to
the public-and they invite the
public to be present at their ses-
SionS.
Every Tuesday there Is
"Open house." Promoters, box.
ers or anyone else identified
with the sport are given hear.
ings IL they have grievances.
II any has fractured q COM
mission rule, the commission
holds court, hears all testt'
mOny, and then-Only then
makes its decisions. Every
body in boxing gets q fair
trial and . square deal In
Illinois.
On the day OF the fight, after
the warriors weigh in, the COM
mission summons all boxers. 1t
tells them how points are scored;
it gives them instructions on all
fundamental rules that exist IN
Chicago. It points out that the |
public is paying the freight and
that it (the commisSion), Will
hold the boxers responsible If the |
crowd does not get plenty OF &C
ton for its money.
Fouling Is Taboo
The commission will not toler- |
ate fouling of any kind and
makes itself clear and firm on |
that point. It has rule pro-
viding that any boxer who de- |
liberately fouls automatically for
feits his purse and gets nothing !
but a. refund for training ex
penses and transportation. The |
commission has standing order |
to referees that they must be fair |
and wholly impartial.
Once q month the COM
mission meets up with all
the referees and judges. It's
q gettOgether session, where
the activities Of the last four
weeks are reviewed. Sugges-
tiOns are welcomed from the
referees and judgeS-and they
are welcomed, too, from any
Of the fans.
On fight nights, the commits
sion splits, each sitting in a part
of the arena and each scoring
the rounds as he judges the
fighting.
Compare Notes
Afterward they compare notes
with those Of the officials and, II
the scoring Of the commissioners |
do not check with that Of the
referee and two judges, there is a
conference next day to ascertain |
why the discrepancy.
Through many years, fans and
fighters, promoters, matchmakers
and managers. have been hoping
for some commission composed
Of sportsmen and gentlemen-
men of unimpeachable integrity,
unchallengable honesty and bril-
liant minds-to govern their
sport. The answer to those
prayers has come in Chicago
where Major General Clinin,
George F. Getz and Fred Gard
ner, typifying the best in Ameri-
can manhood, are plotting the
boxing craft Of Illinois.