Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-05
WILL NEGRO STAND
JEERS OF AUDIENCE?
Black Man More Natural
Fighter Of the Two.

New York March 4-Extending be-
yond the lines usually bounding interest
IN a championship hight. the Jefries-
johnson battle has already been made
the deep study Of eager scientists. Be
hind the test Of racial power Is a
problem for the Observation Of the
most learned. College professors Of
anatomy have seen the fighters stripped
for gymnasium tests, followers Of the
rival camps have had their say. each
expression Of opinion being what an
employer would expect from a loyal
workman. but the psychologist now
treads into publicity.
An eminent naturalist recently de-
clared that two tigers thrust suddenly
into the same cage snarl before they
night. 10 often happens that one Of the
animals realizes that its growl is not
deep-rooted Thon he cows and quits
But tigers do not have the human
pleasure Of having even the losers
end Of 100000 purse or the half in
terest in the pictures" that Is making
the Jeffries-Johnson bout the greatest
financial splurge In prize ring history.
The lighting heart Is the issue. Even
animals have H.
on battlehelds the courage Of the
fighter has been tested and found un-
faltering. When negro troops made "a
gallant stand at san Juan hill they
were ofhcered by white men, whom
they had faith in. on July 4. when
johnson faces Jcfries I'm the ring. the
negro champion viii not be surrounded
by well wishers. THE hope Of the
white race" as Jefries has been
termed. viii have his own power as
an asset and will be able 10 display il
under conditions favorable TO him.
JEFFvS MODESTY
Few Of tho thousands who have
trooped behind Jeffries. applauded him
or shaken his hand. know Jeffries the
man. An inclination 10 shrink from
publicity. which Jeffries has often dis
played Is as near surliness as IL Is
modesty. He Is not an entertaining
oonversationallst All his eloquence II
IN his fists. Most OF the notable ring
successes have been gained by over
powering strength.
Nothing bores Jeffries more than the
attention Of fight fans who try TO get
the big Californian 70 talk shop JEFF
fries is not a fighter who loves to bat
tie He has confessed that he would
never have attempted TO succeed in the
ring II he could have been convinced
that there was as much money TO be
gained in any other line that was open
10 him.
As a schoolboy Jeffries seldom en-
gagged In dsticuffs A New York bust
ness man who knew Jeffries IN his
early days in Ohio and California said
that he might have picked Jeffries for
a piano mover. but never for a fighter.
But aroused! There Is another JEFF
fries When he shifts uneasily in a
chair. or grits his teeth, he Is either
about 10 leave the room or start some
thing" He usually leaves abruptly.
Years Of pleading on the claim Of
patriotic duty, assurances OF fortune.
the appeals Of closest friends, were nee
essary 10 bring Jeffries, the stole. before
the public again as n fighter Then he
wanted 10 train to see whether he
would be right" Satisfying himself
on this point. he plunged into the pre-
lmmary work. accepting every chance
that added to his bank account. and the
publicity end OF the coming champion
ship contest Jeffries has determine
ton, unfailing courage, remarkable
strength, and the support Of majori-
" Of the Anglo-SaXon race.
A NEGRO OF SKILL.
Against this huge. undiscovered
framework Of Jeffries a negro Of skill
will contend. johnson has more conf
dence In his cleverness than in his
strength, but above the waist the
champion is powerful. Johnson is a
born boxer; Jeffries was developed
gradually. Experts who saw Johnson
half a dozen years ago say he could
box as we'll then as he can now. John
son has repeatedly refused 10 let him
self out IN bouts. having as an excuse
that he did not want 10 scare matches
away"
The psychological moment viii ar
rive when Jeffries removes his bath
robe in the ring and Is greeted by ad-
miring thousands. There will be Kisses
for johnson to offset the applause.
Lick him quickly. 'Jeh,' he cannot
fight" references TO his race and
hundred more other haunting. heart
piercing conditions may arise Can
Johnson weather them and Jeffries,