Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-21
'Foul-Proof" handed hammer to Arthur S. Rowe

hit me on the SIMS with all your might. in
structed Brooklyn's padded pulp.
Rowe brought the hammer down as if he were
driving the first spike into the Union Pacific Rail-
road. And then. through the windswept stands Of
Yankee Stadium, there arose an eerie banshee yell.
The man who made it could be seen jumping around
the dugout, his hands clasped in anguish around his
left ankle. There had been slight mistake. Mr.. Rowe
had assumed that 'Foul-Proof' wore shn-pads under
both pants-legs.
Two weeks later. the battered guinea pig emerged
from hospital and hobbled down to the Queen Mary
in time for the Tottenham Hotspur man to administer
another blow on the shns This time the manager
bunted his toes the target He forthwith ordered
dozen of the bone-saving chefs doeuvre. Now Tay-
lor shin guards are being manufactured en- masse in
England and have practically become standard equip
ment for Commonwealth soccer teams The inventor
rakes in royalty of one shilling "a cents each SALE
Began at the Met
Taylor feels he single-handedly saved boxing from
being banned in New York State - and possibly the
nation. BY sort of Rube Goldberg logic, he also
feels that he lifted James A. Farley, then N. Y State
Athletic Commissioner. out Of obscurity - thereby
indirectly engineering the election of Farley proege,
Franklin D. Roosevelt. as President of the United
States
'Foul-Proof has always had soft spot in his heart
for boxing. mainly because it was a body-blow that
started him out missionary in the shock-absorbing
business His conversion took place - of all places
on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera Company.
One afternoon he was appearing as a member Of the
chorus in rehearsal Of Turandot" The called
for husky guards to manhandle MIR. Taylor and other
second tenors. The matinee melee knocked the
wind out Of him. lie got and decided TO GO
a. AHna~ e.
Under his costume he wore homemade suit of armor
made of aluminium and dozen rubber cigars.
What happened that night should have been refereed
by Ruby Goldsten rather than conducted by Serafn.
Taylor challenged the Tuandot guards to real show
down. practically changing the plot Of Puccins opera
The guards finally had to slug Taylor hard that he
rolled into the footlights He arose smiling and
hurt. The idea for in fou-proofng was born
that night
Human Punchiag nag
BY 1880. after the ex-snger had spent years vain,
trying to get boxing authorities to test his belt
appliance they turned to him for help. The air had
been rent so often by the cry of Foul that the exist
ence Of the sport was in jeopardy Three of six Madi
son Square Garden bouts - besides the championship
match between Max Schmelng and Jack Sharkey =
had ended in foul claims. A bill to ban boxing was
introduced at Albany.
1t was at this juncture that Farley sent Taylor
telegram asking him to rush posthaste to Stilmans
Gymnasium. There under the bullying eyes of several
deputy commissioners, four professional punchers i
Yale Okun. Bob DIN. Jack Demave and Jack Renault
took turns for hour in futile attempt to puver
ize their l28-pound human punching bag.
Afterward Farley announced that henceforth
mo- bout in the state could he decided on foul
claim. This rule. based some Of the improve
ments embodied in "Fonl- ProOf's equipment.
still stands today It's why OF his famous shirts
carries the legend, Made No-Foul Rule" Foul
Proof" claims il helned catapt Farley into national