The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 25, 1926, Page 14

% ' [* fof Sglts to “safeguard the domestic By NAT KAPLAN HEAVYWEIGHT championship fight brings a good share of odor with its glory. Press talk of graft and polities in the Dempsey - Tunney fight are only evi- dence of the fact that once more, the usual partners OL prize-fighting were present. In Illinvis, O. W. Huncke, chairman of the Illinois boxing lifted the lid of professional prize- fighting and exposed a nasty mess. It was the kind of mess that is sure to be | found aslong as sports remain a“busi- | ness"——partioularly a gamblers’ busi- | ness. In this kind of “business,” big} and certain profit means the necessity ef corrupi athletes, and promoters. A wise gambler bets on “a sure thing.” Fights are “fixed” and the foolish poor fish who ventures a few hard-earned dollars on the fight is sure to be “cleaned.” Boxing is no place for “suckers.” O. W. Huncke resigned very likely because he was new in the business. The Mlinois Boxing Commission was organized jess than three months ago. Probably he has not yet become part of the game and was thus “disgusted at the continual battle of the crooks of bexing to flout the rules of the com- mission.” The climax came whéh the Rosenbers-Taylor bantamweight title fight was banned becanse .of the un- covering of the aitempt on the part ot | a clique of New York gamblers to win the fight for the champion by | bribery, gun-play and intimidation. This brazen attempt at “fixing” a | fight is nothing new. But the extent of # In the state has forced the com- mission to call-in the National Guard Commission | tranquility.” This condition is quite the accepted thing in all professional sports and thruout the country. Wrestling is rot- ten with it Baseball is not immune. You will recall the world series scan- dal of a few years ago. But all sport | is not tainted. In contrast there is Workers’ Sport. Organizations are) springing up here and there and band- | tag together. A healthy wholesome air surorunds these efforts. There is both room and need for them, and they deserve full-hearted support. In New York and Chicago they\have been at it for a couple of years. (Turn oat some day for instance to see the Hungarian Workers’ Sports team ola | soccer—and see the difference). The Pennsylvania State Federation of La- bor at tis last convention issued a cal for its affiliated bodies to build Labor sports. The Young Workers’ League more than anyone else have »e8n instrumental in promoting work- ore’ sports. A recent statement of the ’. W. L. puts the matter very point- edly: “Professional sports—baseball, prize fighting, etc, are a supposed swbstitute for reai sports. Profes- sional sports can be characterized by corruption and graft (fixed games, etc.) and nationalist propaganda side shows.” There you are. Professional sports— workers’ sports. You say there is no Workers’ Sports Club in your city? Hell’s bells, man! Organize one! Get another person and you've got a hand- _ ball team! Sports and Sports ||Special Features fer the A. F. of L. Convention. In the Next Issue of This Magazine, October 2nd Wm. Z. Foster, outstanding progressive and left wing trade untonist, writes on the tasks and likely outcome of the convention, Ais With photograph of author. P. S., a prominent Detroit trade unionist, describes the atmosphere prevailing tn the Conven- tion City on the eve of the convention. With photographs of Convention Hall. Facts and Figures on the Organization of the Unorganized by Thurber Lewis. Front. Page Drawing by Jerger. A Photograph of the Executive Council of the A. F. of L. OTHER FEATURES, Big Spencer, a dramatic story of the struggle of the German workers, by Kurt Klaeher. Translated from the original by A. Lundy. Illustrated by Adolph Dehn. , The State Jewish Theater in Moscow, by Ruth Kennel. Amply illustrated with photographs | and drawings. Educating Young Workers for Struggle, by John WiHiamson. Concluding Chapter of History of Catholic Church in Mexico, by Manuel Gomez. The Week in Cartoons, by Bales. Drawings, by Ellis, Vose and others. A WEEK IN CARTOONS _ By M. P. Bales AN MUSSOLIN} / THERE'S AMAN USED THAT WHO KNOWS HOW Leer AKM—— To RNA CounTiny/| ( yer. AAPA HNN eciaeR PEP SOT KS: pam