The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-30
JOHNSON AND
 JEFFRIES SIGN
WILL FIGHT FOR THE HEAVY. WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF
 THE WORLD.
Fight To Go to the Club That Is the Highest Responsible Bidder
 Club to Choose Referee.

New York, Oct 29--Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries-for the negro insted that, as champion, his name should go first-signed articles in this city late this afternoon, binding them to fight forty-five or more rounds to a finish, not later than July 5, 1910, before the club offering the best finan. cial inducement. the winner to take a side bet of $10,000 and 75 per cent of the purse, the loser to take 25 per cent.
 The preliminary discussion was scheduled for 3 o'clock in the banquet hall of the Hotel Albany. Jeffries and his manager were punctual to the min- ute, but Johnson allowed his way diff fidentl ythmugh the crowd ten min utes late. At the table, as the men took their places, sat Jeffries, wlth Bob Vernon at his left, Sam Berger, his manager. at his right, and other well known sporting men.
 Jefries eyed the negro curiously but did tot meet his glance.
 Johnson was affable. but showed his nervousness by his frequent grins and
 
 which he carried half concealed in the palm of his right hand
 Both principals posed for the pho tographer and when the smoke of the flashlights had cleared away,p rompt ly got down to business. Jeff let Der. ger do his talking but Johnson broke in frequently on his manager. George Little with suggestions and objec- tions.
 Il was agreed, without dispute. that the men would box Aor the heavy. weight championship of the world"
 At this point Johnson insisted that the present champions name should |precede the retired. underrated cham pion's name in the written agree. ment. To this Jeffries uickly assent ed. Berger then suggested that the fight go to the club making the high est responsible bid within the next thirty days. Little agreed. but John. son, shaking his head dubiously. asked that each bid be accompanied by s5.- 900 forfeit as a guarantee of good faith. Jeffries nodded and Berger gave his assent.
 And have 8 man on the ground with the coin" stipulated Johnson. The stenographer inserted a clause to that effect
 So far it had been easy saiilng. but when the question of referee was raised the crowd edge dforward ..x- pectantly. Little for Johnson wanted to name his choice. For the first time Jeffries brpke in.
 Let the club that gets the bid have a word, he ordered They've got as much at stake as we have. Let 1t wait"
 Little was for arguing the point. but Johnson was all conciliation.
 Well, let 1t go," he urged. That's all right"
 The number of rounds was next in order
 ''So far as I go" said Jeffries. q don't care if it's six, ten, twenty or a hundred rounds, but I know what the public will demand and am going to see they get it, it's means a finish. "
 At this the crowd cheered. until Bob Murphy had to outroar them for order But Johnson was not satisfied. He feared San Francisco Club, where onl ytwenty round bouts are allowed, might get the bid and in that instance would insist that twen. 1 " rounds should be specified. 1 Then Frisco won't get the fight, T anrDunced Jeff deciseively Make II ! foriy-fve rounds or more" The negro swallowed his objections There was still the rock on which most agreements split-the division of the purse. To the surprise of the crowd, both men proved they were willing to fight, winner take all or eC and 40 per cent or 75 and 25 per cent and on the latter basis it was set tied
 | The side bet caused more difficulty Jeffries wanted to wager s20.000 John son. more cautious, offered s5.o00 Little his manager. wanted to lay the money al rineside odds. "as busi ness nroposition." as a compromise