Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-06-28
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook
Peeler

III
~ Hartford, Conn. on Thanks
giving Day. 1901, a brash and
uppity fighter from Denver,
known as Young Corbett, paused
on his way to the ring for his
bout with Terrible Terry Nc
overn, the featherweight
champion whose awesome rep
utation had intimated some of
his earlier opponents, and beat
on the door of Terrys dressing
room. He was going first 10
the arena out of respect for
protocol. which permits the
champion 10 keep the chal-
leneer waiting and, if possible,
brooding.
Come on out, Terry" Young
Corbett yelled, land take your
licking"
Whether from fear or rage,
McGovern lost his poise and
the upstart knocked him out in
two rounds.
At THE moment, Tom Dewey
"A is on his way to the ring.
MIR. Roosevelt has had three
fights since he was first nomi-
mated for the presidency in the
spring of 1882 and has won
them all, but two of his victims
were popovers and the third,
big. clumsy. headStrong nov
ice who licked himself by talk
ing too much, knowing 1t all
and ignoring the advice and
wisdom of his handlers.
Herbert Hoover was de-
Tending champion who, in the
ring. would have been called a
hollow shell. He looked and felt
beaten before the bell and his
defeat was'so popular that he
had 10 carry his own bucket
back 10 his room.
And the new champion was
so scocky and prideful in VIC
tory that you might have
thought he had knocked a
Dempsey right through the sky
light.
4 CTUALLY, he won mostly
"A on the issue of repeal
which he had lacked the cour-
age 10 demand when the issue
was dangerous. II was Al
Smith who fought the prohi-
bitionistS and softened them up
for his friend.
Hoover was afraid Of repeal
and would humble mlserahly
about an experiment noble in
purpose for he hadn't the po-
lltical instinct 10 sense, As
Roosevelt did. that popular SEN
timent had changed. so Hoover
was knocked out by furry of
heavy promises TO the face and
body.
Mr.. Roosevelt promised light
wine and beer, promised that
the old saloon would never re-
turn with its attendant evils,
promised an end 10 the waste
full Hoover regime which had
piled bureau on bureau and
promised a balanced budget and
ruthless curtailment Of govern
ment spending through sharp
economies.
IN 1886. ALI Landon was
1 sacrifice. The Republicans
had nobody ready but had TO
represent themselves to keep
their identity and skeleton
organization. Mr.. Landon was
expendable. He was compa-
rable to a small town fighter
who had been working stag
nights for the Elks and Moose
and had become tricounty
champion.
The 1910 thing was a roughcr
contest than the champion had
expected. Willkie was great,
sweaty. shaggy lump who vio-
lated all the rules. led with his
right. threw horrible swings
which left him wide open but
raised a wind AS they whistled
past and show enormous
strength like Firpo.
Is this new young fellow any
good? Can he punch? Is he
fast? Is he smart? Is he game?
Some champions have thought
: themselves invincible and only
Tunney, himself, could imagine
the opening scene in which he
walked straight out and hit
Dem psey ono. gosh-almighty
smash under the right eye TO
spin him so badly that he never
recovered.
McGovern thought Of Young
Corbett as Just another sucker
until the country boy beat on
his dressing room door and
yelled: "Come on out, Terry,
and take your licking"
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