Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02
JOHNSON WISE ON
LAWS OF FINANCE
Demands $4,000 Side Bet
and $25, 900 Purse to Fight
Sam Langford.
MATCH WOULD NOT
PROVE STRONG CARD
Corbett Anxious to Have Kauf-
man Meet Champion; Jack
May Go Abroad.
BY James J. Corbett.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


dark and cloudy conditions that have
prevailed throughout our fair land the
| last week or SO, and again he may not.
More than likely the heated argum ents
between those clever colored opponents
| of the art of f1sticuffs, ]. Arthur john
son and Samuel Langford, have had
| much to do with the smoky condition
| of the weather.
For several days, or, to be more ex-
| act for the entire week of the cham
| pion's theatrical engagement at a Bos-
ton theater these dusky warriors were
shooting challenges and hot air at each
other, but when it came to a show
down there was no money in sight, in
| spite of the fact that both men were
said to be hungry for battle.
Sam and his manager apparently were
more anxious to clinch a match with
Little Arthur and intimated that no
side bet would be too big to suit them.
that the small sum of $4,000 be de-
posted as an evidence of good faith
on the part of the challenger, Sam
would not come through until Johnson
first flashed some of his coin.
Jack Stands by Rights.
Jack stood on his rights as champion,
ana SdlO tHdI lHdSHluCn do HC was tHC
challenged party, he stood ready and
willing to cover any money put up by
the other side in chunks of not less
than $50, 900. and that the etiquette and
ethics of the game demanded that Mr..
Langford make the first move. About
this time Sam disappeared, and has not
since been located. Possibly he is try
ing to dig up the money.
Johnson does not appear to be anxious
Hrrh%
positively will refuse to meet the tar
baby" for a purse alone. Jack figures
that If any man. particularly any col,
ored man, wants to fight him real bad
| he should be willing to bet a little
money on the result. and in the cham
pion's eyes these days $4,000 is not
so much. He argues that match be-
tween two colored men would be poor
drawing card. and that he is IN the
business for coin as we'll as the glory
Of the thing. Also that there must be
an offer of a purse q at least $4,000
before he will give the subject further
consideration-and there you are.
Negro Cannot Be Criticised.
In way the negro champion hardly
can be criticised for his stand in the
matter, as a match between colored men,
even If representing the best there Is IN
the business, would not prove the most
interesting that could be served the pub
lie. Jack knows that the fight fans will
not break their necks trying 10 get h
to see two "cullud'' boxers knock on
each others heads, and besides, II ne
must risk his title, he wants to De Wen
paid for it. He probably figures that the
prohibitive amount he insists upon as
bet will be protection from further an
noyance by ambitious fighters while he
carries out the program ALREADY happeu
out for him.
In my opinion there will be no fight
between Jack and Sam on this side OF
the Atlantic. From sources that l pc
lieve to be reliable / have learned that
the champion has made arrangements
to sail for England Immediately upon the
conclusion of his theatrical engagements
in this country and already mas signed
contracts TO that effect
Mcintosh Behind Tour.
Hugh Mcintosh. the Australian pro-
moter, is said to be the man behind the
guns, and has picked out three men TO
fight Johnson in England. One of these
men may be Langford but my informa-
ton on this point is lacking So 1t would
appear that the big talk in Boston mere
ly was a hot-a!r session.
And where could We hold fight Of that
description in this country? At the pres
ent time San Francisco is out of il 50
far as match between big men is con-
cerned, and Nevada is too far away
from everywhere for fight lovers to think
of taking the trip in large numbers
Possibly limited round affair might be
arranged for Philadelphia or Boston, but
a short bout between these men would
not prove a great caro-.
A limited round go with Jack and some
good white man like Al Kaufman as
principals would dra" the f1sht fans
oil of the country. lney
would turn out with the hope that the
white man might put one over and bring
back the title where it properly belongs
but Jack is right about the drawing
powers of the colored boxers Inc long
distance game is in a bad way just at
nresent where big men are concerned.
and the victory of a negro at Reno dld
not help matters any.