Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-19
DRAWING THE COLOR LINE.
Criticising Jeffries for Refusing te
Meet the Colored Champion.

JefYries has been severely criticised in
sporting circles for drawing the color line
in order to avoid meeting johnson, the col
ored heavyweight champion, who has chal-
lenged him repeatedly. On this subject the
new York Sun says:
Drawing the color line has been a popular
diversion with some pugilists, especially
champions. Very few fighters who have at
tanned prominence in the prize ring have
not at some time during their career an
nounced that they would not meet colored
men. While in the eyes of some folks this
may be a good thing. to the layman 1t APP
pears as a rather puerile excuse to avoid
match. Nine times out of ten the fighter
who makes this declaration is prompted by
some other motive than mere race preju-
dice He either regards his ebOny-hued
rival as unworthy to cope with him or else
may be afraid of him. Often it is the lat
ter case For many years Tommy Ryan
drew the color line. although when he bud
ded out as fighter he fought negroes. Kid
Mccoy did the same thing. Yet he paved
the way for future success in the ring by
whipping some clever negro pugilists The
latest one to draw the barrier between
black and white skin is Jim Jeffries. JEFF
fries has faced negroes during his career.
and his action in tabooing them at this
stage Is rather surprising. Peter Jackson.
Bob Armstrong and Hank Griffins, black
men. have met Jeffries and were the cham
pion's victims. This was. of course, before
the bOilermaker became the kingpin in his
division. But he is still Jim Jeffries, and
even though he has the title of champion
tucked to his name the glory of having
beaten three good colored men remains on
his record. Jeffries' excuse for not fight
Ing negro Is that he thinks that they
should battle among themselves. This Is a
fair argument in itself, but as no man is
UNEQUAL in the ring until he proves himself
so, the deduction can bear no weight with
fair and unbiased persons.
A champion In order to remain so must
entertain all challenges from worthy and
eligible opponents, no matter what their
creed or blood may be. If the champion
fails to accept the def from an opponent
who has the right to meet him there re-
mains always a doubt Of the titleholder's
sincerity.
OF all the good heavyweights the only one
left for Jeffries to fight now seems to be
Jack Johnson, the husky California black
man. johnson has a record to be proud Of
He has never been defeated, at least not
since he became noted. and besides being a
puncher, he Is clever, game and honest
He has whipped the best in his class Some
of those whom he conquered were thought
TO have a fine chance against Jeffries es-
pecially Sam McVey. a big negro weighing
nearly 80 pounds in trim. Johnson took
McVeys measure so easily that the critics
were surprised Now Johnson wants
chance with JeffreS, but the latter saws
that he will not fight a colored man. He
does not explain his inconsistency, simply
declaring that he will not do battle John
l.. Sullivan drew the color line, too. But
Sullivan was in a better position to main
tain his standard In this direction because
ne had never fought a negro. With JEFF
Tries 1t Is different. If Johnson is eligible
as an opponent, and his record indicates
that he Is. 1t is only proper that Jefrries
should entertain his challenge Jefrries is
an honest athlete and fair. but in the opin
ion OF many he ought to give Johnson a
chance