The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-08
DIR. LATS0N A GOOD PSYCHOLOGIST
BUT HE'S SHY ON HIS FIGHT DOPE
BY Tip Wright.

see that DR.. w. r. G. Latson,
B. s., M. D., the eminent physi-
clan, psychologist and health cul-
turist, picks Jack Johnson to beat
Jim Jeffries.
And DR.. Latson gives reasons
for arriving at this decision which
are scarcely founded upon fact.
tThey may be based upon anatom-
ical observations and other high
brow stuff, but the men who lay
odds won't be influenced by that
kind of dope when it comes to
stringing their bets.
DR.. Latson declares Jeffries is
invincible-if he knows where the
other fellow is going to hit him
and adds, johnson never tells"
We'll, just for argument, jeff
didn't know where Jim Corbett
twas going to hit him, and he took
23 rounds of pummeling and then
sent his trip-hammers piling into
poor Jim, and the latter thought
a yard engine had run over him.
Jeff didn't know where Bob Fitz
was going to send his lightning
kicks, but he-got Ruby Bob's goat
without much trouble. ~
Jim Corbett was a better boxer
than Johnson ever will be. He
was one of the best generals that
ever climbed into a ring. Fitz-
simmons was a fighter, cunning as
they make them. and could land a
harder punch than Johnson. to-
l don't know why DR.. Latson
thinks Johnson will fight a wait
ing battle. Probably he bases his
opinion upon the negroes fights
with Burns and Ketchell-both
smaller men-who rushed and
were met with jabs until they
were cut to ribbons. Johnson's
plan is to jab with his left until
he wears down an opponent. But
when he faces Jeffries he will face
a man with a longer reach than
his own, who will not be so easy
to jab.
That crouch of Jeff's, which
fooled Corbett and Fitz, both the
present champions master in
ring craft, makes it almost impos-
sible for jabber to get him.
Basing his opinion that John
son will win because he will play
a waiting game and let Jeff ex-
haust himself by rushing and
falling, I'd like to mention that
Jeffries won't tire so readily, and
that a man who can tear off 100
yards in IL seconds, as Jeffries
does, is not the clumsy, muscle
bound, awkward individual DR..
Latson evidently imagines him to
be.
And as for Jeffries relaxing,
firing and gasping for breath
well, when he reaches this stage
of exhaustion, they'll be carrying
Mr.. Johnson out on a shutter.
at will be subtlety against
strength, says DR.. Latson; "the
getaway against the punch" Yes,
and 1T was subtlety AND strength
AND speed AND science against
strength, when Bob Fitzsimmons,
the coolest strategist that ever
pulled on pair of five-ounce
gloves, met Jeffries. Endowed
with wonderful cunning, Fitzsim-
mons was beaten, and If the brain
that steered old freckles through
the maze to the championship in
two classes wasn't able to turn the
trick, what chance has this man
whom DR.. Latson classes as subtle,
and who at the best is only a ne
gro with good frame and a pair
Of fast hands?
Subtle? POSSIBLY. But so is the
fieldhand who raids a henroost
AS for his not being there when
the other fellow tries to hit him.
I'll simply ask DR.. Latson to wait
until the fight. and perhaps he'll
change his mind about this indi-
vidual he seems to consider. a
black shadow which hovers Just
out of reach. If DR.. Latson could
see the flat-footed Johnson try
ing to outlook and out-slug a man
of Jeffries' class, / am sure he
would change his mind.