Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-05

Walcott and there is Joe Cans. Those men made names for themselves and they did it legitimately. AS I said a while back. some of these colored men have reason for being fighters. They nearly all have long reach, and that counts for good deal. They gen. erally have hard head, and can take punch there that would drop white man. Then most of them are short necked like Walcott. The hardest thing in the world would be to rap that fel- low on the jaw, for he has no neck at all that could ever see. When the whole thing sinners down to cases. it's easy to see that Jeff has hurt himself just a little bit by scratching that chalk line across his front doorstep.
 Popularity is funny thing here in this country. You're hero one minute and then you're-well, something else. Who had a harder time than poor old Admiral Dewey? He came back here anc the whole nation was rolling over to get chance to put it's neck under his root. Then George made bad play led the wrong card or something and he got his from every hole and corner of the country. That's why say it's fool ish 3df th6 naRs At stfe f0patS get too funny. for, the first thing he knows, some lad will come along with an ax and cut off the limb he's sitting on, and he gets bad fall.
 We're ffckle over here. very tickle. I say We because I'm an American citizen, even if was born in Cornwall. and like the country and its ways. and the way 1t treated me. You get along splen- didly here until you get a little bit proud, and the minute you stick your chin up in the air and try to look over ahousetop, some fellow. without any par ticular malice. just shoves a scantling between your feet and when you're wab- bling on the flint. the bystanders kick you gently to remind you that it won't do to get too gay.
 don't know but it's good idea, for it keeps a man in reasonable shape and prevents him from wearing a hat that's three sizes larger than is good for him. But to get back to that color line busi- ness. Maybe I'm a bit freer in my view than would be if I'd been born in the south instead of England. but then you see over there there are mighty few negroes and. they're. not looked on so much with the same eye we look at them over here. and if ( man is going to be champion of the world. and popular champion. he's got to take care what the world thinks of him. He's got to sacrifice some of his feelings if he's go- ing to do that popular idol business. for he cant forget that he's public figure in way. and he's got to do what the public want him to do or get of the top step.
 Just as long as there are men of good red blood in the world there will be fight CTS and the fellow who does all he can tO keep his end of the game up will be the boy who's going to get ihe small change that's going around. l believe ia n-eet- ing the colOTed brother if hes got look in. for if there's any public sympa- thy going to be spilled around. I want to get 1t for myself. and it nal IS chap feel a lot more comfortable. Mind you. I m not saying that the men who have drawn the color line are wrong. but do think they were hasty. The grip fighter has on the public isn't any too strong any way. and he wants to put sand on his hands to hold on to what he's got.
 Just about this minute Jim Jeffries has got both hands on the title. and while he's talking largely about handing it over to some other fellow. don't think he's going to do it yet awhile. It's all right to talk about. but it's different when the other man puts his hand up 10 take it. Jef-s TO different from the rest. and hell stick along at the top as long as he can Jefi's the recognized cham pion right now. but if good husky eolOrsd man comes along and says he wants a fight. and Jeff turns him down. thereIl be plenty Of people to say:
 Huh. Knew ts eDuIdn't trim the man. eh. and figured fl out that he'd get sway from it by saying he doesn't meet negroes Won't wash a little bit. If he's afraid vhy doesn't he say so2-
 That kind of talk is vhsts going 10 hurt the fighter uhO pulls dopn the shades when the cloud begins tO roi over the sky and he krous it or should 'knoE it.
 Donr draw the color line boys. While t nay save yoIr sns feelings fksf yoa lave gathered ID since y0s rszched the top. ItIs going to splash . bit Of mud ca ths record Foavs F5- frsues and hzrg- irF up ia the oid foIks- pzrior.