The San Francisco call., 1909-12-10
CONFLICTING TALES
PUzzlER TO FANS
One of Successful Combine Now
Saws Mormon City VIII
Ger Battle
By WILLIAM ]. sLATTERY

Another lightning change smut hda
been pulled of in the grotesque, dis
torted Icffries Johnson deal The lat
est from the war camp OF Promoter
Tex Richard Is that the battle will be
pulled of in Salt Lake City. Up to
last night. when Riokard made his
announcement, everybody had about
conceded that San Francisco or
vicinity was TO be the favored spot,
but evidently the Nevada wire puller
is anxious TO work another angle.
There must be a purpose TO tins.
though what II Is can not be figured
ont for while at least. A Jew days
OF sitting may possibly bring forth
the reason.
When Gleason left Chicago on
Tuesday evening II was apparently
settled that the fight should come 10
California. Gleason even went SO far
in hiS Chicago interviews 10 say that
he was on his way to san Francisco
ITO gel the big pavilion ready ana TO
commence arrangements for staging the
battle" Now il remains TO be seen
whose word goes. Richards or Giea-
sons The man who can make MS own
talk stick evidently is the big chief.
TOO MANY COMEBACKS
Ii seems pity that one Of the
promoters can not make definite an
nouncemeni that viii at least carry
one Of the details for the battle. Just
as soon as one Of those in whom some
power is vested SAYS something, some
body else is right on the job with a
comeback This is the way il has been
since the bids were opened, and this is
the reason why the public has shown
p tendency 10 sidestep every announce
ment.
II Richard can beat the governor OF
Utah at his own game. he is man of
more influence than they have given
him credit for. and he is wasting his
talents in bothering about prize fights
Utah's chief executive has come out
with the positive announcement that
the fight can not take place in the
Mormon state. This should have been
enough for any level headed man in the
promoting game. but apparently Rick
ard has his mind set upon showing the
governor up. It's A weird miNup all
the way around and back again
MOST MONEY HERE.
From a financial standpoint. San Fran
cisco or vicinity seems 10 have il on
sax Lake from every possible angle.
There is a greater population here TO
draw from. prices OF admission for
fights are higher here than any place
in the country and the game has been
well established here. something that
Utah can not boast about There does
not seem to be one single point in
favor OF the salt Lake suggestion.
unless perhaps Rickard manages 10
dig up some wealthy business men
there to back him. From a commercial
outlook, this does NOT seem likely. It's
not a business proposition.
Rickard has evidently made some
promises 10 certain people in Salt Lake
and il is the general belief that he is
doing all in his power 20 show the peo-
pie OF salt Lake that he rs going TO
tle bat for them and keeping the
name OF their city before the sporting
public anyhow. Following is the in
terview with Rickard in Boston last
night.
RIC<ARD'S INTERVIEW
The Jenries- johnson bout will
be held IN Salt Lake City. and il
viii be no fake
] am sick or this fake talk. and
J viii give any one IS 00O IL il can
be shown that there is anything
crooked 10 the arrangements
knew the day before the bids
were opened that Johnson would
stand by me and that Jeffries
would be with Jack Gleason. so
we got together and talked the
matter over and came to an under
standing COffrOth told Gleason TO
60 ahead and come in with me.
That left COmroth out OF the whole
affair, and I want the public TO
know he has nothing to do with il
i viii not have 10 FIX" any Off
cl6l in salt Lake to pull the bout
on there. Bankers. brokers and
business men OF the city want me
20 hold il there and have given me
All the assurance necessary thar IL
would not be interfered with The
salt Lake Palace where the bout
VIII take place. will with some
6ltera tions. hold 80 600 people