The San Francisco call., 1909-12-04

the pictures of the Johnson -Ketche
fight. The story says tnat JohIsoA
held out against Conroth on ssset1c[ LIZ
count and that he made his influence {
felt TO such an extent that Nolitot ~
would have TO win all the others II
Of the black champion.
Before he succeeded in having HIM
self declared the winner IN the oatt lt
OF the promoters II Is beneNed ina
Rickard was forced TO o1er JenrleS
bonus of $4,000 and that Johnson also
came in for snug sum What Jonn-
sons cut on the side VIII be nopoos
seems to know, but one sport said thal
the big black was promised $4,000 tC
sign with Rickard.
Rfckard. according TO the latest tale
met Jeffries and Johnson on MS way
10 New York Both of these meetings
are supposed to have taken place out
side the Empire state Rickard pleaded
his cause with both the lighters many
DAYS before the date set for the open
ing Of the bids and in this way II i
believed that he had an edge on al
his rivals.
II is known that the influence of sew
eral wealthy men from Los Angeles
headed by John Brink. was brought tC
bear upon Jeffries SO that the big tel-
low might strain point In IaEor o.
Tom McCarey. But Jehrles eNldenIi4
weakened when approached by the Ne
Tada man. and as one OF them SAID
He threw down his home city for z
few thousand dollars
DID GLEASON SQUEAL:
On top of this comes the announce
ment that Jack Gleason "doublt
crossed" Coffroth and made knowa the
latters bid to Rickard- 1t is knowr
fact that Coffroth and Gleason hat
formed a combinauon TO clincn th'
match for themselves. Gleason is &C
cused of having told these plans L
Rickard shortly before the bids for th'
fight were put in
The wagg1ng tongues OF the gossip
Er-17 Of
stories are fitting up and down th'
line. One of these is that Conroth anC
Gleason formed their agreement II
Colonel koWal lSkys Office many days
before bidding time. Between then
they mapped out plan OF campaign
in which they carefully planned TO us'
al their combined lnfuence asalhs,t m
other promoters and thereby make !
impossible for the outsiders TO breal
in Thus II was that this pair looked
TO have the best chance OF sta glng th'
match in or near San Francisco.
Rickard and Graney arrived IN New
York 4 few days after the Gleason
Coffroth meeting. Thls par accord
ing 10 the story, got together anc
Ia liked matters over in general way
They say that Rickard and Graney eN'
changed bids. compared notes and go
ready for action side by side. Wha'
their plans are has not been dlVulged
but Rickard is said to have offereC
Graney a share Of the club II the ngh'
should take place either IN NeVaoa ol
'Tm for San Francisco. my own town
Tex and there is no chance Tor me t'
cut in on this fight any place else.
Gleason is supposed TO have ap
rroached the Nevada man shortly after
The rumor is that the baseball manager
and the man from the Sageorusn STA .
held a long. secret conference GleasoI
is accused by one faction OF having eA
posed Coffroth's plans to Rlckard- rms
il is said. enabled Tex TO frame up M
D.. 40 q
all his rivals. This also gives rise L
the story that Gleason has declared
himself in on a part OF Rlckaros 5 IN
terest in the big match.
TEX REPUDIATEs COFFROTH
Rickard has offered to bet anybody
$4,000 that Coffroth win have no hand
IN pulling of the battle. He emphati-
cally denies that he had any under
standing with Cofroth or that th'
latter was promised any interest IN the
match. Rickard has not yet stated
whore he win hold the battle. BE hint;
at san Francisco and again he inti'
mates thar Salt Lake City wifi b,
favored. He says he is not in a posi-
tion 10 say just yet
Apparently, McCarey was doubled
crossed from the outset. Though his
bid is considered by many 10 have
been the pick OF the bunch. he was
turned down cold by the principals
II IS believed that Comroth and Giea-
son laid their plans 70 put McCarey
out OF the way first of all and 5udg-
ing from the result they were en-
tirely successful
johnson over to his side, but appar-
entity the negro was not satisfied with
The way the last fight pictures Were
handled. This. il is said, brought
about a serious breach between the
fighter and the COlma promoter and
was instrumental in giving Rickaro
a chance to gain the good graces OF
AnotI1er version Of the affair is thai
Ricl1ard viii promote the night IN
salt Lake City or some other Utah
city. Conroth still insists that the
fight viii take place IN California
either at the baseball grounds in San
Francisco or at his colma arena.
SALT LAKE CITY GETS BUSY
At the present time Tex Rickaro
sthongly favors Salt Lake for the
fight because Of assurances Of sup
port from many business men there
way back.
ocean View seems out of the ques-
ton Jenries won't fight in Nevada
owing 10 some gambling debts he
May, the well known Nevada sport
Coffroth says Eddie Graney and Tom
NcCarey are as sore as boils. although
Graney in the presence of winning
promoters puts up an unruff1ed front
and extends the glad hand.
But the truth is. Graney came east
hoping to be made referee If he should
fail to get the fight Tommy Muir
rhy says that on "Wednesday night ne
with Graney went over to the Brook
lyn theater where Jack johnson is
playing and the three with George
Little, rode back to New York in an
auto and on the way Graney pleaded
with johnson and Little for their sup
port for referee-all of this despite
Grsney's emphatic assertion that he
would not act as referee under any
circumstances.
Coffroth says Graneys influence
with politicians is overestimated and
that while Graney may be referee, il