The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-07-02
BY Associated Press.

| BY Associated Press.
Reno, New, July with the last
lplank in place, the canvass covering
of the ring stretched until it cannot
tslip or rumple beneath the feet Of the
fighters, the arena in which James
IJ. Jeffries and John Arthur Johnson
will settle the worlds heavy weight
championship on Monday Is ready for
1.-THE thronging thousands who will see
1.-THE history-making battle fought out.
And the thousands are coming. They
are pouring into this. little city by
every available means of conveyance.
ISome of them come from the other
lside of the Atlantic ocean. Some
lhave voyaged across the Pacific, trav
telling nearly 10000 miles to witness
1.-THE fight, and probably there would
Ihave been many more from great dis
stances had 1t not been for the strong
deposition to the match and the wide
Ispread agitation to prevent it which
finally resulted in the transfer to the
liar less accessible Reno,
The widespread opposition to the
tight in California which finally re-
suited in Governor Gillett's drastic
faction, barring the event from the
state, and the shifting of the scene
Ito Reno, was headed by the churches
Iof the country, and found place III
1.-THE resolutions adopted by several of
1.-THE annual church conferences and
conventions. The governor, the mayor,
land even the president we're appealed
Ito, and the story of the governors
final interference is now history.
1 The first problem encountered by
1.-THE promoters after the men had sign
, led articles was that of selecting a
lsite. Rickard declared himself in
flavor of Salt Lake City. Utah, and it
, Hooked for a time as though the match
I would be staged there. Jack Gleason,
IRickard's associate, is a San Fran
ciscan, however, and he was equally
J determined that the fight should be
/ lheld in his home city. The difference
j between Rickard and Gleason contin-
] Iued until the governor of Utah plainly
, Iintimated that his stand would .be
against the fight. and Riclzard yielded
1.-THE point.
When Rickard and Gleason finally
decided upon holding the fight on the
Ieoast, the question Of the exact place
{ was still in doubt for several weeks
I 1t was found that the board Of super
visors Of San Francisco under the
J new administration which took office
at the beginning Of the year, was
3 lwilling to grant forty-five round per
Z nit, breaking the twenty-round limit
: but still there was friction at some
: points, and finally it was decided to
e take the fight across the bay
Emeryville is the site Of the New
California Jockey Club race track. Il
: lis convenient to all railroads, street
cars and ferry boats. and when the
sporting world heard that President
1 Williams of thhe Jockey Club had con
lsented to the use of the grounds for
!. the fight arena, they breathed sigh
Iof relief. 1t looked as though the way
WAS cleared at last. The men were II
/ training, plans for the arena We're
t drawn, the agreed portions of the
e gigantic purse were deposited, ant
e Ieyerything looked smooth.
f Right in TIE midst Of this. however
y the church opposition came. The peo
Iple Of the east bay shore where Emery
lville is located brought great pressur'
8 Ito bear upon the county officials. I
Twas announced that the fight wouls
be stopped at the first indication tha
Lit was anything more than the sparrins
] contest 1t purported to be. This state
ment created alarm, and when it wa
followed by a request from William
THAT the promoters, if possible, fin'
some other place. sportdom suffere'
a decided blue spell. Williams sal
that he would keep his bargain wit
: Rickard. but it was evident that h
did not desire to do SO.
S The promoters then began to gathe
y ltheir forces in San Francisco again
A storm of objection and protest wa
Iraised by the church federations an
g like Organizations. but the police con