The Washington times., 1909-01-11
Lest we forget.

1t is now announced that Jack
O Brien. the seIf-c0ufessed prize-fght
faker, is going abroad TO squeeze dry
the lemons Tommy Burns and Jack
Johnson picked
Even if yod are a member of the
Clan-na-Gael, pity the poor English
when they have that prospect fin view.
All OF which shows the hollOwness of
The claim that Johnson ld Burns would
have been forever discrtditcd had they
faxed their Sydney, Australia. fight re-
Gently, which Johnson AOu IN fourteen
rounds, and proves that the American
public IS without exception. the lead
ing sucker of the world Great pity
there was not a. sucker championship
at the Olympic games for it would have
been another clean sweep for America.
Fakes Forgotten?
In all the recent talk about Tommy
Burns It seems to have been forgotten
that he admittedly "a led one fight with
Jack O'Brien, framed up another and
Ouble-crossed O'Brien, winning a de-
cision on points in twenty rounds The
Philadelphia newspapers are standing
for the O'Brieu stuff now after the ter
rifle roasts they handel him when he
was shown I'D iD the Burns matches,
and we hardly blame the reformers for
trying TO Kill the boxing game when the
newspaper men who make a living out
of writing fights are willing to let such
incidents be forgotten.
Dosr bear in mind the letters let loose
M Chtcago ana published all over the
country IN which Burns Chicago frleuf
or manager was asked to arrange
matches for Burns with John WILLIE
Mike Schrecl1. and other second and
Outstanding that the Other fellows were
py no means 70 win, accidentally or
otherwise After all that no self
respecting follower of the sport was
vastly disturbed when Johnson. the ne
gro. won the championship.
We must give Burns the credit for be-
5Is tt'e pes saifs shooter, pr nOIh-
ing else Apparently having forgotten
the record OF Burns, Sporting Life of
London, IN critical story evidently
written by the managing editor VIII
liam VIII who tries to be fair even
If he doesn't aiwi see things through
American specJacI PEI. says;
Sporting Lies Vi5-e
Tommy Burns is not the mercenary
young man that many represented BIN
to be, with the one thought Of row
much he could make out of his boxing
contests. Those who really know the
eX-champion know. that the charge is
say that Burns when I'm England took
some pains with the making of his
matches, and that he took good care
thar the bargain he ruyde with tha pro-
mOter was q good JaTgaiu for Tommy
Burns IS but anOthel way OF saying that
the Canadian is keen business man. a
point upon which he LETT no one IN any
doubt
Burns made no secret when here Of
the te-- that me was I'D the same not
because he loved it, but because of the
money That was ln it, He was not
seeker after wealth I'm order 70 vain
glorlOusIy fiaunt it before the public. but
for the same reason that a famous
namcsake Of his advised a young man
60 acquire wealth, namely. the glorious
privilege Of being Independent
Don't Blame His Greed
Burns had before aim-always before
him-tLe day Of 1ereaL Old age
reaches the boxer Jerg early. In the
limelight today in the gutter tomorrow,
rs, alas, too often the fate of the man
who d0Hs the gloves. and Burns honest
ly, and without any side whatever. de-
CldIed shat no one would ever have &C.
caslon TO hand round the hat for him
rs there one OF the eE-cnaupiOu' S fierc-
est critics who VIII today refuse TO APP
piaud the young man for the fear of
charity and the love II Independence
that led him 20 take mp the attitude
that he adopted toward the sports pro-
m0ter who wished his services2
Aud, after an The sports promoter
is In tho game for the same reason that
Che boxer and the sporting journalist
IS in ar-f0r what ne can make out of
d. With the exception OF the National
Sporting Club whose first consideration
is good sport, there is not another box
ing promoter in London who can cast