The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-03
So SAYS Gov. Gillette as He De-
nounces Battle Between Jefries
and Johnson-Promoter Says
1t Isn't So.


Genominated fstiC encounters for prize
money as "hippodromes TO fool the
fools" He also criticised the Amerl-
can public for taking more interest In
rrize fights than in national ques'
tons
The governor said he would gladly
stop the coming battle for the world 5
championship IL he could, but all sorts
OF frauds are allowed and nobody has
the power TO stop them
Sometimes a mans public views
don't agree with his private attitude"
added the governor. Now that my
private views have become public,
don't care a continental what anybody
thinks about them. | know what
think. think that every prize fight
is a fake.
This Jeffries-Johnson fight Is
simply a scheme to make lot OF
money out Of the credulity OF the
public. Anybody with the least
sense knows the whites OF this
country won't allow Johnson or
any other Negro to win the
worlds championship from JEFF
ries. They simply won't stand for
liz. johnson knows that. He's no
fool. He knows that TO win that
fiqht he would have TO whip every
white man at the rinsside. SO ne
has agreed to lay down for the
money.
why, he would no more think OF
trying to knock Jeffries out than he
would think OF trying to stop a bolt OF
lightning. Not that he might not be
able to do it, But he knows he would
not only have to whip Jeffries but the
spectators. the police and every white
man that could get at him.
When the big championship battle
is ended on July every white man In
this country will be told that a white
man has demonstrated the physical
superiority of his race over that OF q
rival race, and every one who has no
sense will rejoice In the victory
After vindicating the confidence in
him Jeffries. Will retire and Johnson
make more money out of the credulous
fools OF the country.
There was no chance TO get Jeffries
back into the ring until he was assured
that he would win. Jeffries doesn't
need the money and while he may be
patriotic and willing to bear the white
mans burden there were too many
chances for him. He had nothing 10
gain. Johnson, on the other hand, has
little to lose and a prospect Of getting
a lot Of money.
Suppose the whole affair were not
a frame-up. What chance has John,
son to get away with a victory? None
at all. He would knock himself out
IL he had to avoid winning. This Jeff-
ries-Johnson fight is what race touts
call "a lead pipe cinch.'
1T will no doubt be a fine sparring
exhibition, as that Is needed for the
motion pictures, but when the time
comes Johnson will lose.
II would like to interfere IL could.
IL I had the power I'D quickly stop
the fake, but all kinds OF frauds are
permitted by law and nobody can stop
them. Footraces and prize fights are
two OF the worst frauds. The only
thing that will Justify my interference
would be a riot, and don't think that
will occur"
Gleason Doesn't Believe It.
When shown the Gillette statement,
Gleason, one OF the promoters of the
fight said:
81 don't believe Gov. Gillette ever
made the statements credited to him.
He recently admitted here that he
knew nothing about boxing, had never
witnessed a boxing match and was not
interested The statements that John
son would not dare 10 win are prepos'
ferrous. Johnson whipped one white
man Tommy Burns) fn' Australia
and IL is absurd to say he would not
have the nerve to duplicate the feat
here
Il have never in my career been
connected with a fake fight. and II Is
Impossible for lighters TO pull of q
fake without the knowledge of the pro
motors. JEFF would rather lose his
right arm than fake, and johnson
would rather win this battle than In
herit a million dollars"
Church Element Takes Hope.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 2.--The
protest against the Jeffries-Johnsor
fight have finally got on the COVER
nor's nerves, is the way sporting mel
today sized up Gov. Gillette's inter
view In which he denounced the july
4 fight IA fake and the persons who
expect to witness real contest al
gullible and CredulOus. The inteTvie v
caused great rejoicing among the
members Of the church federation
which has been leaving no stone un
turned to stop the proposed battle.
Hundreds OF letters and telegram.
have been coming 10 the governor TO-
weeks\urging him to act. The church
organizations which have been 81
active In California recently are pre-
pairing today 70 lombard Gov. Gillette
again the instant he returns TO th'
state and II possible to force him 4
take some action more definite thar
mere denunciation They believe tn,
executive can stop the fight II la
wishes To.