The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, March 12, 1911, SECTION TWO, Page 2, Image 18

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    TITE SUNDAY OHEGOXIAX, PORTLAND, ! :MAHCn
12,
1911.
TOURNEYS
WORRY
TENNIS PLAYEBS
Question of Holding Interna
tional and State Events
Is Puzzler.
, OUTSIDE PLAYERS TALK
V altnomah and Irvlngton Clubs
Hosts at Portland Play Tbl Year,
Doubt Advisability or Holding
riay Early or Late.
- BT RALPH H. MITCHELL.
Will the Oregon State and the North
Pacific International tennis tournament
be held simultaneously, immediately fol
lowing ch other or be held over a
month apart? This 1 the burning ques
tion at present agitating the tennla men
of Portland.
There are many who are desirous of
holding both tournaments within a few
days of each other, that added Induce
ment may be given player from the Pa
clrlc Northwee to attend. There are
others who are as heartll In favor of
holding the two tournament!, at both of
which Portland thw year 1 toe host, over
a month apart. Some advocate holding
the International, which, of course, la
the best of all the tourneys In this sec
tion of the country, the latter part of
Auxist; o:hers would have It In July, re
serving the Oregon Slate for the last of
Augiwt. or the first week of September.
Multnomah Would Walt.
Omlr.g to the fact that the Multnomah
flub this year entertains the Oregon
. Stale, the Idea of holding this tourna
ment as late as possible would mean a
great advantage for ti.e club, as by that
time It would have complete temporary or
permanent quarters arranged for the
entertainment of their guests.
The fact, however, that the Interna
tional Is the b'geest affair of Its kind
in the tennis world In this evotion. leads
the prevailing opinion to be expressed In
favor of holding the International as late
as prrtbl. thus finding the cracks in
top-notrh condition.
The I tv in let on club, this year's host to
the International. It Is believed largely
favors being host late In the swon. As
snnounced exclusively In The Oregonlan
four weeks ago the dates already proposed .
for the two tournaments here '"Is year
are the week of July 10 for the State
and the week of August 21 for the In
ternational. President Andrews of tha
North Pmrlflc Association sent notices to
all the cluhsi comprising the association
and tbe only opposition to the proposed
dates aries between the Irvington and
Multnomah clubs, affecting the state and
International play.
Outside Players Voice Views.
As to the feellr.ge of outside players In
the matter of the Portland tourneys.
The Oreuonlan late last night received
the following expressions from players) 1
over the Pacific Northwest, many of
whom will be seen on Portland courts
this year from Victoria. Tacoma. Seattle.
Everett and Spokane If the dates of the
two tournaments do not conflict.
T. majority of the Victoria tennis
players are of the opinion that it would
be wise to hold the International about
the day already announced throughout
the Northwest, namely, some time toward
the end of August.
B. P. Schwengcrs. the International
champion, when consulted yesterday, ex
preaed such a view. His argument was
thst players were not at their top form
until near the season's close and there
fore to obtain a real test as to the merits
of the respective representative men It
was desirable that they should have time
to train. He admitted that there was
something to say in favor of bringing on
the tournament earlier In the Summer,
but personally thought thst It should not
be held until the conclusion of all the
cut. etata or provincial affairs.
V. Mac Re. another prominent Vic
toria tennis exponent. backed up
eVhwengerer stating that In several In
stances in this section there were men
In cities where they had no player who
could give them a strong game. He In
stanced Victoria and Spokane, the In
dividuals being Schwengers and Tyler.
They should be given an opportunity to go
through several tournaments thus obtain
ing training before being asked to parti
cipate In the International, sutd Mac Rae.
Judge Lampman. one of the Victoria
rlub officials, submitted a minority re
port declaring that in August the play,
ens would be stale and unrnthustaatte
and maintained that more rould be as
sembled and better play result If the In
ternational play took place in July, at
the season's start.
Seattle C.Ives Opinion.
From Seattle. Samuel Ttuasell says:
"The International should follow
Multnomah, or If this be not possible,
should come Just before It. This would
secure a better attendance. I do not
think August la a good month because
of events at Tacoma and Seattle.
Secretary Hotskamp, of the Seattle
I'lun. says:
"By all means have the two events
rlose together Internationa) and Mult
nomah In August. If possible, but if
thae. re not possible, make It July. This
Insures a good crowd-''
"The latter part of July would seem
to rae to be the best date for the Inter
national." says Bob Breexe. the crack
Tacoma player. "The Tacoma tourna
ment this year comes the first week In
August and the July week Just preced
ing it would suit us best.
Tacoma la Anxious.
Breexe states that he experts to at
tend the International this year as one
of the Tacoma men if the date comes at
a time when he ran get away. Jimmy
I.yon. a coming young player who haa
played with Breexe in the doubles a
good deal, probably will be the other
Ta'-oma man.
The Everett tennla players state they
would be satisfied with any arrange
ment that might be named for the In
ternational tournament. The Everett
enthusiasts are not as numerous as Is
generally the rase In a rlty of Zi.OOO
anJ thew are willing to let the places
with more prominent plavers decide
what Is right; however. It wss suggested
tonight tiiat tbe International tourna
ment be held at a date well along In
the season so that players may have an
opportunity to be at their best. .
No word has been received from tha
Spokane Club. The dates will be ap
proved or disapproved by the National
Association In New York on March 15.
Other. Challenges Out.
The announcement last week of tha
personnel of the American team which
probablr will battle for the Interna
tional Par la trophy la Australia, has
been followed by the news that the
holders of the cup have received other
challenges tbsn from the Americans. It
Is practically definitely decided that
Wright. Champion I-araed and Maurice
McLoughlln will uphold tha American
honors, but the question now arise as
to the probable date.
Tbe South African Lawn Tennis As
sociation is one which has Issued
challenge to play for the Lavls trophy,
as well as an English team, but It ap
pears more than probable that tbe
Americans will be given the preference
as challengers.
Tennis enthusiasts will await with
interest the announcement of the suc
cessful bidders foe the trophy.
Word from California last week
comes to the effect that Oregon's woman
tennis title-holder. II axel llotchklss,
has not yet definitely decided whether
she will defend her title her this
year. She hopes to be able to get her
111 season jiates arranged within a
month or so. when she win give out
definite plans as to her proposed trip
northward. Miss Hotchklss writes that
she "only hopes she can make it."
PAPKR C1IASE F1XISIC CLOSE
Chester Murphy on Oregon Kid
Hides Mount to Victory.
Racing down the stretch almost
neck and neck. Oregon Kid and Call
Bond, rivals for the paper chase
championship of the city, furnished an
exciting finish to the novice paper
chase of the Portland Hunt Club yes
terday afternoon, Oregon Kid winning
by two lengths. Call Bond made a
game finish but tbe better endurance
of the Kid told in the crucial moment.
Chester Murphy rode Oregon Kid. C
H. Norlln rode Call Bond and Sidney
Lowenberg was riding Oregon Maid.
taking third place. The race began
and ended at the clubhouse at Ciarden
Home. It was run over a l-mile
course and many riders started.
ELK ROAM LAVA REGION
UCXDREDS OP SPECIES SEEN IN
KLAMATH LIKE COCSTRV.
Plan to Make Lava Bed Territory
Muletall Deer Retreat Meets With
Hearty Approval.
KLAMATH FALLS, Or., March 1L
(Special.) There are MO big elk now
ranging In the lava bed regions, less
' than 40 miles south of this city, accord
ing to John A. innlth. Deputy Game
Warden for Northern California, who is
n the city from his home at Mount
Hebron. In Siskiyou County.
Warden Smith has been patrolling tbe
lava beds this Winter very closely, and
he says on thia trip he saw 75 of these
fine animals in one band. They were
so tame that tbe Warden was able to
get within 40 yards of them before they
went scampering off over the bill out of
sight, and even after they saw him
they did not appear greatly excited. He
says he saw several other smaller
buncne, of elk. 4 au tojd h estimates
hat ibout mt9, , tne fiat
country around the lavas at this time.
The big bunch wss seen not far from
tha lower end of the Lower Klamath
Lake. Just over on the foothills of the
Van Brimmer Mountains, and Deputy
Game Warden L. Alva Lewis. 'of this
city, says he expects to make a trip
there within the next few days and
make an attempt to get a picture of the
herd. He will take two cameras, one
Urge one and a smaller one. and if he
can get within range and get his large
machine to work without disturbing the
animals he will bring back some pictures
prove to the world that the
Klamath basin is still one of the big
feeding grounds for elk.
These elk have been wintering In the
same region for yearn. No longer than
two years ago It is declared there were
no more than 100 of them, but owing to
the rigid protection given them by the
California law. which makes It a felony
to kill one. they are rapidly Increasing
and the band now numbers twice that
many.
Mr. Smith also confirmed the recent
report of the local Game Warden con
cerning the large number of muletall
deer In the lavas. He says he has seen
several bands of from S to 100
this Winter, and he would estimate that
there are no less than SCO of these in a
radius of or 40 miles.
It will be remembered that an agita
tion has been started to get the Presi
dent to set aside a large scope of this
lava bed territory for a muletall deer
retreat. Deputy Game Warden Lewis
slates that were this dona It would be
come one of the greatest rendexvous for
these animals as well as tbe elk of tha
Northwest, and that unless there Is some
such action tsken or the country la bet
ter patrolled for their protection, thla
species of deer Is doomed to become
extinct. This and Harney County. In
Oregon, are about the only Winter feed
ing grounds for the muletall in the
country now. and Mr. Lewis estimates
that there are not more than SWs of
these In the entire state. Including those
in the lava beds la California, which are
about half Oregon deer and half live all
the year in California.
The Harney County Winter feeding
ground for these is north of Silver Lake,
and this is a region of country which la
poorly patrolled by Game Wardens, so
that the muletall that haunt 'that place
for Winter are easily slsln without the
perpetrators being caught.
PA PRE KNOCKS OCT SMITH
American Champion Flnllie Austra
lian In Seven Rounds.
STDNET. N. 8. W March 11. Billy
Papke. the American middleweight,
knocked out Dave Smith, the Austra
lian middleweight champion. In the
seventh round today. Last month
Papke lost to Smith on a foul In the
10th round.
St, Paul Riflemen, I-ead West.
MINNEAPOLIS. March 11. Kt- Paul
won the Indoor rifle team champion
ship of the West by defeating Butte
by a score of 987 to 185, in the final
week of the Rifle Association lnter
club matches, which ended today.
The winners will shoot against the
team of the Winchester Klfle Club of
New Haven, which is the winner. In a
slmlllar series of matches between
It "eastern clubs for the championship,
during the week ending March 15.
Each team will shoot on Its home
range, and report results to Lieutenant
Jones, secretary of tha N. It. A.. Wash
ington. D. C.
Dickinson. K. D.. haa finished third.
Pendleton Win Championship.
PENDLCTON. Or, March 11. Defeat
ing I'matllla basketball team. 11 to 11.
last night, the Pendleton High School
quintet won the championship of Ksstern
Oregon. All the teams, Including those
t Baker and La Grande, have been
defeated by comfortable marginal by the
local high. The victorious team Is now
attempting to securu a gam with the
Albany team, which holds the scholastic
championship of Western Oregon.
Attell Maw-hed With Bums.
CHICAGO. March 11. Abe Attell. tbe
featherweight champion, who haa been
out of tha ring for several weeks with
a badly wrenched shoulder. was
r etched yesterday to meet Frankle
Burns, the Jersey City bantamweight,
in a la-round boot. Attell and Burns
will battle at the National Sporting
Club. New Tork. on March 11, They
will meet e,t US pounds ringside, .
AMERICA'S BEST WHO MAY GO
: ) , " -
fv V..' ,J II
x1
. V f; . , ' . ..: --A. 4
:
1
SH-CC
SPEEDWAY IS PLAN
Riverside Driving Club Seeks
to Interest Park Board.
HORSE ISSUE IS NOT DEAD
Portland Has Many Fast Thorough
breds and Owners Want Place to
Hold Matinees Where Honk, of
Auto It Not Heard.
Portland will have a epeedwar or half-
mile track In one of tha city parka such
as are established In New Tork. Los An
geles, San Francisco, Denver and
other cities. If the plan of the 'Riverside
Driving Club meets wl;n success. A com
mittee has been appointed to further
this project and members) of the Park
Board favor the scheme.
A petition will be circulated beginning
tomorrow among the business men of
he city to be presented to the park
Board when next It meeta. Officials of
the club have been promised support
from many sides and tt Is thought the
Park Board will ratify the request for
a speedway.
A. c. Lohmlre, C. W. Todd, D. c. Ander
son. H. M. Tillman ana ueorge rweiier
have been appointed members of The com
mittee which will further the Interests
of the speedway plun.
Mr. Lohmlre recently returned from
California where he ssw the popularity
of speedway and he is much enthused
over the project.
Aa Portland Is fust becoming a great
city It Is well that something be done at
his time." said Mr. Lohmlre. "With
this arrangement matinee, harness racing
would be made free to the public, the
driving cluhe) taking charge of the meets,
and the racing would be purely amateur.
New Tork City has spent nearly 17,000.000
on Its speedway and It Is considered a
splendid Investment.
'The horse Issue la not dead as some
people rontend, but very much alive.
Millionaires of California whom I raw
were taking an active part in matinee
racing. Some of them acted as officials
while others drove their own horsesi
1 awM.,:
' .
J) ,)
V xn
Mi V'i
- ' v - -ft -
LEFT TO BIGHT FESTOS, CENTER ELLIOTT, GlAKDl JAMISON, FORWARD; MOORE ABTTO WATSON,
SlBSTITI'TKSi HtrWARD, COACH AND TRAILER.
TO AUSTEALIA TO WIN BACK
u
mmmi
t
ff ".'"1 I al'liiM ; l1"
Automobiles can be bought cheaper than
horses In Los Angelesv
"In Golden Gate Park. 9an Francisco,
there Is a track which is kept up by the
city and It Is used by two driving clubs
and a polo club. It Is the hope pi tne
Riverside Driving Club to have tha same
thing In Portland."
The last business meeting of the club
prior to the annual meeting and election
of officers vm held last Wednesday. It
was decided to bold the annual election
of officers the firrt Monday In April. The
proposal to hold a series of matinee
races at the Country Club track for the
benefit of the Oregon Humane Society
was discussed and In all probability races
will be held. '
-Some of tbe best racing stock in the
United States) is now owned in Oregon
and the outlook for matinee racing In
Portland was never brighter than for the
1911 season. Some of the horses now
owned here sre the Bondsman, Hal B,
Tha Patchen Boy, Orlena, Carman. Maca
ma and others, but the owners have been
getting but ' little encouragement from
the public for their efforts In giving this
city nrst-clRss racing. Captain C. P.
McCan, of Hood River, paid out nearly
120,000 for blooded horses to be raced In
Oregon thin year.
There Is a horse sale held in Portland
every year at which some of the best
racers in the country go under the ham
mer, attracting horsemen from all parts
of the West. These horses ore usually
bought for road and matinee purposes.
It Is srgued that, the automobiles are
so numerous that it is difficult to drive
on the roads, hence the strong appeal for
a public speedway.
INTEREST IS KETEX IV FIGHT
Anderson-Morrlssey Sout at Van
couver Promises Well.
VANCOUVER. Wash.. March U- (Spe
cial.) Interest Is high in the Anderson
Morrlssey bout to be held in the Audi
torium, Friday' evening at g o'clock,
March 17.
The two clever young boxers will meet
at 133 pourids. Bud Anderson, la a native
of Vancouver, and In case he wins this
bout will be In Una to challenge Peter
McVeigh, lightweight champion of the
Northwest. Kid Morrlesey, of Spokane,
won a decision over' Willie Conroy, of
San Francisco, hers several weeks ago.
Three six-pound preliminaries will be
held Chuck O'Connell. of Chicago, and
Eddie Kehoe will box at 124 pounds;
Flovd Mclrwln, of Vancouver, and T. F.
Abe'rnathy, of Portland, will meet at 123
pounds, and Private Andrew Courtney,
of Vancouver Barracks, will fight Roy
Welch, of Salem. Or., both weighing 170
pound!. Courtney knocked out Ralph Rau
Saturday night in the second round. Rau
wss the touted amateur heavyweight
champion of Canada.
9L
UNIVERSITY OF OEEGON BASKETBALL
I
A
WORLD - FAMOUS TENNIS TROPHY
iiteiiiiiiaif):
TRUCE MAY BE BROKEN
SUFFRAGETTES SERVE NOTICE
OX IRISH NATIONALISTS.
Women in Statement to Redmond
Demand Aid or Hint That Mil
itant Methods May Ensue.
DUBLIN, March 11 (Special.) There is
now danger that the long existing truce
between the suffragettes and the gallant
members of the Irish Nationalist Party
may be rudely broken. The Irish suff
ragettes, who only lately adopted mil
itant tactics, have been taking a very
vigorous part In the women's campaign
during the past few months.
Seven of them. Including Mrs. Cousens,
the National treasurer, were arrested
during the disturbances In London and
have only recently been released from
prison. Their return to Ireland has put
a new seat into the suffragist move
ment here. It is this increased alac
rity of pace which seems to be forging
a little ahead of the hitherto staunch
supporters of woman's suffrage, the Na
tionalist party.
At the end of & long statement just
handed to John Redmond by a deputa
tion from the Irish Women's Franchise
League, occur these ominous words: "If
no help is coming from the Irish party,
that party must share wlta the British
government the responsibility for any
militancy that may ensue."
The statement asks the Irish party to
demand a full inquiry into the suffrage
question, and facilities for the discussion
of the Conciliation Bill during the pres
ent session of Parliament. As most of
the responsible leaders of Redmond's
party have worked and spoken valiantly
for woman's suffrage It is expected that
no serious break will occur. But It is
clear that the returned prisoners are
fast converting the Irish suffrage or
ganization into a "Deeds Not Words"
club that will henceforth be more and
more exacting of the fulfillment of
promises made them by their male sup
porters. Labor Opposes Antl-Alien Bill.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 11. One of
the anti-Aaiatlo bills now before the
State Legislature at Sacramento was
refused Indorsement by the San Fran
cisco Labor Council last night. This
was the measure proposed by Senator
Camlnetti, Democrat, providing that
native born citizens shall be denied
the suffrage In state elections if their
parents are ineligible to citizenship.
The Labor Council decided that, though
aimed at Asiatics, the bill would affect
others.
TEAM.
A
n -
V -
0 V,
; - ft - i .
WOLGASrS CHANGE
sum, isopm
Corbett Sees No Reason Why
Michigan Lad Should "Rule
the Roost."
JOHNSON CRIES FOR COIN
Negro Chamrlon Refuses to Fight
Battle Without More Than $30,-
000 Kld McCoy Latest Veter-
an to Try to "Come Back."
BT JAMES J. CORBETT.
ALLENTOWN, Pa.. March 11. (Spe
cial.) For a second time Ad Wolgast
and "Knock-out" Brown have met for
a session with the gloves and proved
nothing except that neither is a boxer
who can make extravagant claims of
class. The consensus of expert opinion
is that either Packey McFarland or
Owen Moran would have no trouble in
outpointing both men In limited round
bouta with chances greatly in favor of
ending the contests with knockouts
before the time limits.
As usual, it is difficult for the read
ers of the New Tork papers to tell
from the stories of the fight which
was the better man. The critics are
divided, as was the case after the
Philadelphia meeting. . Some have
Brown winning by the traditional city
block while the more conservative let
it go at a draw, which is very likely
the only fair decision.
Brown forced the fighting in tha
early sessions and Wolgast did not
show to advantage until the last few
rounds, when the turn in the tide
gave evldenoe that he probably would
outlast the New Yorker in a longer
contest.
Brown Takes Punishment.
"Knock-out" slowed up perceptibly
from the body punishment and the
champion was putting it "all over him"
when the final gong rang. Summing
up the reports, a draw verdict would
appear to be eminently just, yet a
number of scribes whose cordial dis
like for the champion is always in evi
dence, would lead the public to believe
that the contest was so one-sided as
to permit of no other than a decision in
favor of Brown. Unfortunately, for
me, I was out of town filling a the
atrical engagement for the night of the
"go," therefore cannot give my readers
an opinion from the view point of an
eye-witness.
However, I requested a well-known
and fair-minded authority on pugilism
to telegraph me Immediately after this
bout his frank and unbiased verdict.
This gentleman, 'in whose judgment I
have implicit confidence called it a
draw and added that it -was a very poor
fight and hardly worthy of two pre
liminary boxers, let alone a champion
and his challenger.
Another friend of mine well qualified
to be quoted, having acted as referee
at one of the leading boxing clubs in
New York in the days of the Horton
law, writes an interesting letter com
paring the boys with lightweights of
a decade ago and winds up by saying
'that neither Brown nor Wolgast knows
enough about boxing to be featured in
a preliminary, to say nothing of a
championship contest.
Woleast Fresh at Close.
He adds that the boys are husky
lads and can stand considerable punish
ment without backing up and that
about lets them out. In a long con
test it is my friend's opinion that Wol
gast would wear the other fellow
down and bases this argument, upon
the fact that' Brown had begun to
tire in the last round or two and that
the champion was apparently as fresh
as at the beginning.
In my criticism of the first meeting
between Ad and "Knock-out," . I men
tioned that it was a mighty poor ex
hibition for men supposed to stand in
the front rank of their division. Also
that it emphasized the fact that we
are sadly lacking in high-class light
weight material when a boy like Wol
gast can rule the roost. From all ac
counts of this later bout my opinion
on this point has been Indorsed by
the leading authorities in the game.
The only chance Wolgast would have
with a real boxer, of the McFarland
type, for instance, would be to stall,
if possible, for' 10 rounds or more, let
ting the other fellow do the leading
and forcing with the hope of eventu
ally wearing him down.
And It is no cinch that the cham
pion could stand up and take such
a beating as Mao would be sure to
hand out In 10 rounds of fighting and
be able to come back for more. But
all this is idle talk, for It is a hundred
to one that Ad will not agree to take
Packey on unless the latter would
agree to weigh in at the 133 mark.
And there is no chance for McFarland
to do that and be fit.
However, if New Yorkers were dis
satisfied with the showing made by the
lightweight champion they have some
thing more promising to look forward
to this coming week. I refer to the
10-round contest scheduled for next
Wednesday evening between two really
clever and hard-hitting lightweignts,
"'Owen Moran of England, in this cor
ner, gents, and Packey McFarland, the
stockyards' champion, in the other, and
both members of tnis 'ciud. mis
match ought to prove something worth
while, I would say, and also prove to
the snorts that It is the occasional op
portunity that make champions and
not always merit or aDimy. my up
is McFarland, if there is a shade. Of
course, there will be no referee's de
cision, but the opinions of the scribes
will not be so conflicting on this oc
casion,' as both boys are popular with
the pencil pushers.
Something Wrong In Bout.
There's something strange about that
Welsh-Wells thing in London last
week. Cabled reports had the scrap
for the lightweight championship of
England, but when Wells was over here
last year he was fighting In the welter
division. And he was not much of a
boxer either. Allowing for natural
improvement I can't figure by any
stretch of the imagination how he
could outpoint such a marvelous boxer
as Welsh. It is more than likely that
detailed reports will show that the
battle was at catch weights, and that
Freddy was giving away a lot of
poundage. At that. Wells must be
wonderfully improved to win the deci
sion and we may hear further good
reports from him In the near future.
A great many sports thought that
Langford's easy victory over Bill Lang
would force Champion Johnson to come
out in the open and offer to fight
somebody; If not Langford maybe
Kaufman. - But Jack is not the least
bit disturbed or bothering his head
about It at all. He has been offered
a slice of a 130.000 purse to meet Sam,
but his only reply to date Is "J want
mora money." Tbe champion has al-
"V
Are you a bell cow, or one
of the herd?
Do you follow others or
have others follow you?
YouH notice the best
dressed men on the streets
men most ' critical of their
attire are wearing Politz
clothes.
It's because the styles are
a little better, the patterns
a little more exclusive, the
"lines" a. little smarter, the
tailoring of higher standard
in short, the general "air"
of the whole suit is more dis
tinctive and has more indi
viduality than the usual
r.eady-to-wear clothing.
That's where we lead I
"VVe have a standard?
It's a little better!,
285 Morrison St.
Between Fourth and Fifth.
ways contended that s. bout between
colored men will not draw any real big
coin, but just the same he wants to
hold up the promoters for a big chunk
of "mazuma" or "nix" on the fight
thing.
Thirty thousand dollars is a pile of
money for two colored men to battle
for, even when one is the champion.
Fight followers the world over would
willingly pay most any price for the
privilege of seeing a good white man
box the champion, but would not care
to go very far out of the way to watch
two smokes mingle. There would not
be the sentimental interest attached
to such a battle as would be the case
should one of the "white hopes" de
velop class enough to give him a look
in with the champion. Had Lang beat
en Langford there would have been a
mad scramble of promoters and John
son would have been offered guaran
tees big enough to satisfy even his
extravagant demands. BuJ the men
who deal in heavyweight battles will
think twice before raising a $30,000
bid for all-black contest.
Johnson In No Hurry.
Apparently Johnson is in no hurry to
return to the ring and to, risk the title
unless guaranteed more money than any
other fighter was ever offered. When
Jeffries was meeting all challengers ha
was satisfied to box for a reasonable
percentage of the gate receipts, but not
so with the big colored man. He made
so much money out of the Reno fight
and the pictures, and theatrical engage
ments that followed, that he is at present
on "easy street," and the only thing that
will make him listen to reason is a
sudden shrinkage in his bank account.
And he may be a little scared, too, that
he might be licked which would put him
in the "down and out" class so far as
money-earning capacity is concerned. It's
a plain case of big money or no fight
and seemingly his ideas of his import
ance and worth as a drawing card ara
too large even for modern promoters who
are far from being pikers themselves. .'
Al Kaufman may be the one man with
whom the power lies to force the cham
pion to return to the ring. If Al were to
come boldly forward and Insist upon his
rights to a fight for the championship an
the logical candidate of the white race,
and satisfy the public that he means
business. I am sure that the newspapers
would take the matter up In his behalf
and compel Johnson to agree to a match.
But Kaufman has signed up with cer
tain theatrical interests which eeem to
have no other plans for the big fellow
for the immediate future than. to exploit
him on the rood with a burlesque troupe.
Kid McCoy Would "Come Back."
Kid McCoy is the latest old-timer to
declare his intention of trying to "come
back." Jack O'Brien gave the Kid a
private try-out recently and was so well
pleased at the showing made by the
veteran that he has matched him to box
Billy Berger, a Pittsburg lightweight,
next Saturday night. While the present
crop of boxers in ine ncivicr
weight division is aammeuiy turn
ing to brag about, it seems to
ha is taking awful
chances in trying to take up tho
game after tne long lay-on aim mo ctjr
1 : ,D fnilnu-pH fnr jl number of
years. However, I wish him the best of
luck, and know that if he still retains
a fraction of the old-time skill ana
speed his opponent will have to step
pretty lively for the elx rounds. In the
event of McCoy's "making good" don't
be surprised to hear that FKzslmmons
and a few of us old-timers are shortly
registering as the latest models in "white
hopes."
Some signs of the times: The Califor
nia State Legislature is at work on a
bill to place boxing exhibitions upon a
plane which will make them free from
attack by the "reformers." The At-torney-Oeneral
of Louisiana has rendered
an opinion that 20-round boxing bouts are
perfectly legal in his state; a bill to per
mit six-round contests has been passed
by the lower house In the Missouri Legis
lature and probably will be O.-K'd. by the
Senate; Governor Osborne, of Michigan,
has declared in favor of limited round
boxing exhibitions when conducted by
regularly-organized athletic clubs. Things
are looking up what?
Ballplayer Wins Prizefight.
FORT SMITH. Ark.. March 11.
Charles Schmidt, Detroit American
League catcher, made his debut as a
prizefighter last night, gaining a de
cision over Jimmy McDonald of Den
ver after 10 rounds of hard fighting,
before the Arkansas Athletic Club.
Schmidt had the advantage over Mc
Donald from the start, flooring him
four times and forcing him to the ropes
repeatedly. Schmidt weighed in at 17S
pounds and his opponent at 16&t
4