Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-07
BOXERS VISIT
THE PRESIDENT
ALL OFFER ASSISTANCE IF
NEEDED
John L. Sullivan Claims Acquaintance
with Five Heads Of the Nation.
Corbett Calls on Mr..
Cleveland
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.--When Ter
ry McGovern, accompanied by his "pri-
vate secretary" called upon President
Roosevelt recently during a partly lu-
cid interval he gave utterance to an
expression which, somehow or other
nearly all pugilists employ when they
are visiting the president of the United
| States.
Mr.. Roosevelt. says n writer in the
Philadelphia North American, chatted
pleasantly with the peculiarly acting
little slugger for a space and then, by
certain manifestations of restlessness,
indicated that that would be about all.
Terry took the hint. He gave the Of
flee to his private secretary" and the
president gave the two little chaps a
parting handshake.
well. president" said McGovern, as
he backed out, "if there's ever any
thing / can do for you, why live in
Brooklyn. you know, and I'm there to
give you a lift any time you tip me
Off"
Nearly all pugiists say that, or
something like it, to presidents. They
never make II clear just why, or how, or
when. a president could ever by any
chance need the services of pugilist.
They just cheer the presidents thorny
paths by telling them that they, the
pugilists, approve of them, and that
they'll "be there" in the hour of need.
Sullivan Knows Five
The mighty John L. has, in the prog
ress of his checkered career, told five
presidents that he John, was wit em
l-pronouncements which clearly show
the ,catholicity of Johns political ideas,
| these Rant1h-
licans and Democrats. John told them
all that he was theirs to command.
Mr.. Arthur was the first president
John l.. ever called upon. The world
was ringing with the fame of the Bos-
ton boy at that time, for he was still
fresh from his triumph over Paddy
Ryan. and just beginning his career of
triumph.
John was exhibiting at a local variety
theater, and with his manager and a
couple of sparring partners both good
| fellers." he dropped in at the White
House to init" Mr.. Arthur, the court
Hest of modern American presidents.
The champion of the world forgot to
remove his expensive plug hat as he
entered the east room with his COM
panions, and his manager with a deft
rear movement took 1t off for John.
Sullivan didn't like that.
He resented having his chapeau re-
moved by another man, even his man.
ager, at any time or place. and he
told his manager so out of the south
western corner of his facial orifice.
Hey, cut that" growled John, in
dignantly. 1.-The boss wouldn't mind
seem me in me lid-he wears one of
'em himself, don't he? I guess he's a
right guy enough not t. min seein a
guy wit his top on
"How's Things, Boss?"
"How's things, boss?" John L. greet
ed Mr.. Arthur when the suave and
handsome president stepped into the
| east room. You know who I am
from me pitchers, don't you? I'm yours
| truly, John L. and he held out his
hand of might.
II should have known you even had
you not been announced. Mr.. Sulli-
van," gracefully replied President Ar
thur, taking the big mans proffered
hand. John l.. gave the presidents
hand bone-crushing squeeze, but Mr..
Arthur was too game a man to vince.
You're chunky, guv'nor, and you
look as if you could ha' learned t.
hanl your docks If you'd gone in f'r
it an trained observed John l.. then,
at the same time Giving the president
an encouraging dig below the waist
| line with the outstretched fingers of
|
on?"
Not since I was a lad.' replied
President Arthur, land / was poor
hand at it then"
well, 1 just dropped in, guv." said
John L., then, preparing to execute
his getaway. "Come down an have
peek at me show IL you git time. Me
manager here'll stake you to box.
punch up a couple o. dubs ev'ry night.
| ,olJ oh
Corbett Visits Cleveland
James ]. Corbett, who in his salad
days rather plumed himself upon his
ease of manner in meeting up with all
sorts of renowned persons, employed
the 'your excellency" title in address,
ing the first president he ever met, Mr..
Cleveland.
81 am honored to meet you, your ex-
cellency," he said with a finely re-
hearsed formalness when Mr.. Cleve-
land received him.
"Glad to see you, Jim," responded
the president, with eyes a-twinkle, and
Corbett wilted a bit. He didn't edge
in the your excellency" thing after
that but addressed the chief magis-
trate as Mr.. Cleveland or Mr.. Presi-
dent.
During Mr.. Roosevelt's first term,
Fitzsimmons called upon HIM several
| times, out tnere was never any trutn
in the yarns that gained currency
throughout the country that Mr.. Roose-
Welt had on one occasion put on the
gloves with the Cornishman. Mr..
Roosevelt himself disposed of that story
when plainly asked about it by
Washington correspondent.
IT like big game" he said, but
not quite so big as that. II l were to
put on the gloves with Fitz he would
| be under the necessity of pretending
that he was boxing, or, If I urged him
to let himself out, he might knock my
head off. l don't like to see man
pretend to do anything, and l don't
want to have my head knocked off,"
The last time eJffries was In Wash
ington he called upon Mr.. Roosevelt.
The boilermaker was hog fat at the
time, and the president promptly COM
mented upon his apparent lack of con-