The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-06-16
JOHN L. SULLIVAN AT
THE WHITE HOUSE.


met at the White House to-day, tn
heavyweight champion ''lid-holder
and the former heavyweight champion
pugilist. Both called to see the Presiden
| and Secretary Taft came first. II
| talked over affairs in Panama for hal
an hour, while John L. Sullivan wait
| ed in the lobby of the White House of
| fee building. John L. arrived about
O'Clock and sat outside of Secretar,
| Loeb's door putting on big blacl
cigar, until he resembled an ocean
going tug under forced draft. FINAL,
Secretary Taft emerged from the Pres
| ident's sanctum, and Immediately
| John L. expressed desire to meet him
There goes man as is a man." de-
clared the pugilist, and I'd be obliged
if one of you fellows would give me
knockdown to him."
One of the newspaper men told Mr.
Taft that John L. Sullivan wished tC
meet him, and the Secretary genially
assented. Then John L. bore down or
him with a rush and landed fairly and
squarely on the Secretary's palm.
Il am glad to meet you, Mr.. Secre-
tary Taft" said the ex-champion of the
ring.
Il am glad to meet you, Mr.. Sulli-
van,' said the champion of the lid,
and as he gazed at the ponderous
boxer, he added, what do you weigh"
"Oh, I'm just lightweight" respond
ed John L., but I'll bet I've got you
skinned block"
1 hope you have said Mr.. Taft.
fol y1nt OH raj 1zJ
weigh
"A clean 395 with my toys on re-
piled the erstwhile fighter, but only
331 with the buds off. What do you
weigh as you stand?"
Il have to confess to 2S0 pounds, -
replied Mr.. Taft.
Then the ex-champion proceeded to
punch gently various parts of the Sec
retary's anatomy. There was a pecu-
liar smile on the Secretary's face and
a slight blush was evident during the
process.
soft, soft, entirely too soft" de-
clared John L. with a warning shrug,
when he had completed his examina-
ton
I'm afraid l am admitted the Sec
anu, uO you hHoW, L HdFtIl L
been subjected to just that sort of a
test since I left Yale"
You're all right, anyhow declared
John L., as if he wished to compensate
the Secretary for his criticism. Then
he added, with a broad wink: Come
over here in the corner; I've got some
thing to say to you particular"
The two champions stepped over to
a corner, and John L. proceeded to ex-
plain his case with an eloquence pune
tured with highly ornate exclamation
points. He told the Secretary that his
nephew and namesake, John Lawrence
Lennon, had got into a bit of trouble
no fault of his own-a bit OF
trouble which, John L. declared, "a
good feeder like the Secretary ''ort to
1t appears John L. Len
non was a marine and deserted in
Cuba. He was caught, convicted, and
is now a military prisoner on Cover
nors Island.
He warn't no real deserter," de-
clared his champion. He Just couldn't
stand the chuck and he skipped over
to British cruiser to get a bit of tasty
grub The ex-prizefighter was sorely
that the Secretary had not
received letter which he had written
him about his nephew but it appears it
fell into the hands of the Assistant Sec
rotary Of War during Mr.. Taft's alb
sence. and the Assistant Secretary had
decided against the ex-prizefghter's
petition
Just after Mr.. Taft departed John
told hn pvacidnrt
see him. He was with the Chief Exec
utive for half an hour.
Me and the President was talking
about the time knocked out Mitchell,
up in New York, in 49, he said, when
he came out. The President was
there and saw me knock him over the
rope. The President is all right. he is,
and I like him and SOS his Ohio feath-
erweight, Taft. You know all real big
men are all right if you let EN- alone
They will take lot, just stand for
good deal. until they get going-but
when they do get started they go like
hell, and John L. thought he could not
pay a greater compliment to the Sec
rotary of War.
There was one pathetic incident dur
Ing the meeting of Secretary Taft and
John L. A photographer, with his
camera, was waiting outside the Whits
House for permit to make exposures
in the White House grounds There
We're the Secretary and the big ex.
champion standing on the office stops
in the brilliant spring sunshine, but
there also were two big policemen, and
the poor photographer was afraid to
snap his shutter for fear he would be
arrested. He cursed the stars under
which he was born, his trade and his
luck, but he could not summon up suf.
f1cient nerve to press the bulb. He got
his permit before John L. came out.
however. and doubtless got a good
snapshot.