The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-12
aJoHN y on PueILIsn1.
Sullivan Believes Fighters Are to
Blame For Present Situation.

New York. March l2-No more inter-
esting character has ever been conneSIf-
man who ever bid for public favor has
more loyal or sincere admirers. any
thing John 1. has to say is certain TO be
interesting. He is rich in "reminiscences,
remarkably well informed, and, more than
With the example set by Governor Nash
of Ohio it would appear that boxirg VIII
in Juggling with the public the smart
boxers juggled themselves out Of. the
Sullivan was asked whether he con-
sidered the sport had received per
manent setback or was merely IN tenn
''Boxing Knocked out? Not much
In a few years this present spasn OF
horror over the sinful practice of de-
and boxing will be legalized as il was
before. and viii be more popular than
les a wise guy who fights shy OF the
law. I'm old and experienced enough
butting against II When the distin-
guished gentlemen who have charge. of
they wouldn't let Jeffries and Rubin
come together at Cincinnati the game was
II haven't got much respect for the
opinion Of the man who never saw a
fight but declares it's the most brutal and
sort of jar you to hear or read Of lot
sinfulness of two trained boxers meeting
in the ring. when these same people never
ball wrestling, hockey, or any. other kind
Of sport that Is rougher and far more
breaking an arm or a leg in a wrestling
match are a dozen times greater than Of
and as for f0Otballl Excuse me from
that innocent game unless L have an
armOr plate suit and am allowed to carry
an AK Hockey is a nice, genteel game
just about as mild as football.
you can play football but mustn't box.
the only thing to do is TO be patient until
Things come into favor and go out
again. This old wheel OF a world keeps
Every man has some sporting blood ia
him. It's true you'd need . search war
some of the gazabos We hear about, but
there never was an international prize |
tight, a great yacht race, a mighty horse !
race, or a contest where pluck and skill
were brought into play that didn't inter- 1
Dutchman from Maine TO the coast and
from Manitoba to Mexico. At the pres
goody good crowd seem to have things I
all their own way. When you get to be Il
S ,n oo ss n am seu f Kno~ 5Ra he exe 1,
lie will get tired Of being too straight
viii drop out of sight and the people who /
believe In live and let live will come TO /
II don't say that the rank taking that /
marked some OF the contests in this state 4
last year didn't have a good deal to do Il
game. You can't fool the public long. /
The nghter who isn't on the level ought
to be driven out OF the business. a boxer
has to depend on public favor for sup
port When he fakes he not only ruins /
his reputation and spells his Opportunity /
for making good thing but he bunkoes
those who pour money into his pockets.
It's too bad the men who faxed couldn't /
get what they deserved without having
the honest men suffer too. That's al
ways the case, though. My advice TO
not only every athlete, but to every man,
Is. Be on the level
What do I think OF the men of today
the boxers2 ferries ia the best OF them.
and ought TO retain the championship
just as long as he takes good care Of
himself. No. I don't think Fitz. good /
as he IS. has any business with Jeffries.
4 may be wrong, but I don't think
we're improving much we think
we are / don't think the boxers Of to-
day are as good as were fhe men OF my
time. Don't think my head is getting
too big for my hat when / say that the
men in the ring today are not doing what
did in my prime
Il went up and down the line ready to
meet all corners, and went the limit for
twelve years I m not saying this in any
egotism. but just as a matter of fact.
1 m sincere In the belief that in my time |
better than the men Of today. and
think my record will show it,