Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05
PICTURE MACHINES
MIDDLE BIG FIGHT
Camera Syndicate Believed to
Be Backing Promoters
Richard and Gleason.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

NEW YORK. December 4.-The taking
Of moving pictures at the ringside has
reVolntfoniZed pugilism. in the opinion of
many experienced men who discussed the
Jeffres-Johnson fight today. As matter
of fact, no important ring contest can be
held in America, England. France or
Australia without taking into considera
ton the profits from the pictures. which,
IL the case of the big mill just arranged,
are expected to beat all records under
favorable conditions. But in view Of the
fact that powerful syndicate controls
the taking Of the pictures and the letting
Of privileges TO display them. 1t is gener
ally admitted that Jeffries and Johnson
are tied hand and foot, unless there is
secret agreement Of. some kind between
them and the syndicate. Many stories
are In circulation just now regarding
how much of a figure the moving picture
syndicate has been cutting in the recent
matchmaking. Persons who are closely
Identified with the syndicate still insist
that the fighters and the promoters, Rick
ard and Gleason, will have to accept
whatever proposition may be made to
them or go without the camera. Other
persons are equally positive that the syn
dictate is behind the big fight and has
guaranteed the SOL 600 purse which. it
is asserted, will be equally divided be-
tween the pugilists. regardless of the out
come Of the battle.
that a Chicago man, one John Burns.
representing himself as an authorized
agent Of an Independent picture concern.
called at the newspaper Offices a week
ago and stated that he intended to be
present at the opening Of bids last We'd
nesday and make an offer of $50, 600 cash
and 80 per cent Of the gross receipts
from the pictures, said offer to be sub
mitted exclusively to the two fighters.
Burns stated, incidentally, that his con-
Germ was bucking against the syndicate
which, he said, had reached a private
agreement with j. w. Coffroth, the Colma
fight promoter, to the effect that he could
have $4,000 in cash and 25 per cent of
the gross receipts If he secured Jeffries
and Johnson for his arena. Burns pre-
dicted that CofrrOth, with this PROPOSE
ton under the belt. would offer a purse
of at least $4,000, all rights reserved, for
the mill, and that as he had the syndicate
behind him, he would land the match. I'M
less the fighters decided to accept the
Independent concerns offer.
Conroth, coupled with Gleason, did Of
fer S125,00O, all rights reserved, for the
fight, though at no time did he personally
take part in the negotiations. Gleason,
meanwhile, hooked up with Tex Richard
and got the fight, with an offer of one
hundred and-one thousand dollar purse
and a moving picture concession, the
terms OF which have now been made
secret. While Cpffroth and Richard have
positively denied that they have an I'M
Outstanding, sporting men all over the
country believe under the above circuni-
stances that there's something doing of
which the public will know nothing until
1t is learned which concern takes the
pictures of the fight.
It is common gossip that Coffroth could
have 'sewed up Johnson to fight at
Gonna many weeks ago because of the
fact that he was the first promoter
to show the negro any real money, accru-
ing from the latter's mills with Kaufman
n,,l stab oil p,,t 3rrp fo hnf foil
heard just now, Coffroth did not care
to be mixed up with Johnson on such q
basis, preferring to remain Independent,
rather than be regarded as antagonistic
to Jeffries and the white race. Close
friends of Johnson, however. admit that
the negro reached an agreement with
Richard some time ago, and that when
the latter came east he had Johnson in
his pocket Richard denies this and
also says it is not true that he made
a secret payment of a ten-thousand-dol-
lar bonus to Jeffries in return for his
acceptance of the Richard Gleason offer.
Richard also denies the report that he
Is broke caused by sheriffs at
tachment for an unpaid Doctors bill
OF $1,000, and asserts that he recently
made $3.50, 900 by the sale of mining stock
in Nevada, and can get as much more
in the same way.
1t Is the impression that Berger has
made mess of handling Jeff's end of the
match. The boilerInaker has always been
in the open and was never party to a
secret agreement before. But since the
mania to gather In the dollars took hold
of Jeffries he has been under the Berger
SPELL 1t is a sure thing that Jeffries
does not relish the unpleasant comment
heard on all sides as result OF the star
proceedings yesterday, and 1t IS
believed that sooner or later he will have
something to say for publication.
Jeffries intends to show" in a tour
across the country that will land him in
Los Angeles about January Is. Then he
intends to give UP the footlights and be-
gin strenuous training I'm the mountains,
beginning about february L. If lie adj
he-es to this plan ne will have five months
in which 10 harden his constitution and
perfect his wilma.
Johnson says he may train In California, ,
W here the climate agrees with him 1t
is regarded a certainty that Joe Cans
will be his chief mentor before and dur
ink the dghA l