Possible Clues:

• Contests firm is getting 1000 written protests with signatures
• Contests firm is getting 1000 formal requests with signatures
• Contests this is to keep up with the Joneses at school
• First of cigars and old male appeals for matches
• Colonel, possibly, writing about appeal for contests
• Change of mind leads to written protests with signatures and a number of fights in Ring, for instance
• All sporting contests
• Contests this is keeping up with the Joneses at school
• It comes top in rigged contests
• Commanding Officer with Marlboro initially asks for matches