The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-08
ENGLAND THINKS
 BURNS 4 HOWARD Believes Burns Hides Fear
 Under Cloak of Gold TOMMY TO MEET LANG Unusual Number of Americans Wit. ness Epson perby-Norris, octo-
 senarian Golfer, Passes
 Away-Was Reformer.
BY RICHARD DAHLcREN.

London, June 1.-The chance of a fight !n England between Tommy Burns and the big negro fighter, Jack Johnson. is SO remote as to be practically negligi- ble.
 Burns announces that he will 20 10 Amsterdam before fighting Johnson un- less his terms of sS0, 600, win, lose or draw, are accepted, and there is no chance for that
 Johnson has claimed the title by de- fault, claiming that Burns refusal to fight him forfeits the title
 While this claim Is not taken seriously It Is not to be gainsaid that sympathy IS largely with Johnson.
 The Pink un" in a recent issue, says: Johns modest, assuming. manners, no less than his demonstrations of his arr, have already made him a tremendous favorite with the members of the N. $. C., and Charles Blacklock has stated definitely that the club will refuse 10 recognize the title of champion for any holder who draws the color line. Burns latest stipulation is also readily con ceded by the black, who says that Buras shall not only have 16-foot ring, but may paddock it and throw the key away before beginning the boxing. What could be fairer?"
 The Sportsman" prints a letter from Lord Londsdale to the man who tried to match Burns and Johnson to fight in the Chelsea football grounds. His Iordshp is quoted as saying: Do not at all ap- prove of any arrangement being made giving Burns $60OO. It is utterly absurd and contrary to the interests of boxing, and the fact of his adhering to these sums shows he is frightened to meet Johnson.
 ''If you give Burns percentage of gate money, you must give Johnson also per- centage of gate money.
 If Burns has any confidence in his skill he would be quite ready to meet Johnson on similar terms to best pugi- lists that have ever lived.
 General expression of opinion at New market was to this effect-that he was hiding the fear of Johnson under a cloak of gold. Don't believe you would get the enormous crowd you imagine if once known he was going to get this sum-"
 Burns when asked to say something
 
 smiled as he said: What more can say than I have said? l am not in tn1s game for fun. There Is no more reason why I should permit Johnson to make terms for fight than there Is TOT nal a dozen other men, not as much, m lact' as Is the case in some instances. an satisfied with my stand in tnls mater. i am going to Australia soon to nsh' Lang. If Johnson is so anxious for Q fight he can get one before one of the coast clubs when I return from Aus tralia.' , th;ng like e15.OO0 since he came to Eng land and 1t Is not unlikely he will run if m to a2O, 900 before he gets away. The wage limit in professional football seems doomed. The rule has been more bonored in the breach than in the ob- servance for some time, and the senti- ment in favor of its abolition is growing snortine Life says 'Those who are In favor of the maximum in principle, al beit in a varied form to that at present existing. must be convinced that it is nothing short of farcical to retain rules which the great majority of clubs di- rectly and indirectly affiliated to the as. :, sociation are opposed to. In the first | place, a wage limit, the observance oi | which must be enforced by the central governing body, is wrong in principle | and 1t has lamentably broken down ir practice. There is not football legisla' | tor who knows anything of the inner | working of the arrangement side of the | game who believes that the rule as to {