The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-15
JEFF and JOHNSON
DEAL ON SQUARE

@AAA@ 0AR
Here's the true line on that secret
conclave at which Jeffries and John
son signed articles for the big fight"
says Bat Masterson in the New York
Telegraph. THAT ceremony was held
in sound proof room, with the doors
and with windows triple locked and a
quarantine out against the reporters,
because Richard and Gleason, he men
who got the fight privilege, each had
an ace in the hole There were no
two sets of articles signed. And there
was nothing in the one set which even
remotely indicated that the fight is to
be faxed But neither Richard nor
Gleason wanted the fact known that
to all intents and purposes-the matter
had been arranged in advance.
johnson had pledged Richard that
-Rickard-would have the fight or
Johnson wouldn't play.
and Rickard who knew his sidn of
it, and Gleason, who knew his side Of
it, very naturally got together. Cof-
froth and Eddie Graney and Tom Nc
Carey were permitted to amuse them
selves by starting wrinkles figuring
out how much each could afford to
give for the battle. And all hands
locked themse Ives in that little room
in Hoboken, and kept their faces
straight and talked terms and dates
and places until they got rheumatism
Of the tonsils. And all the time Richard
and Gleason were agreed on the pro-
position, and had arranged that no
one else could get within rifle shot of
it,
$50 far as Richards pledge from
Johnson is concerned. that rests upon
hearsay only. So far as Berger's
pledge to Gleason is CO.. cerned, that
story rests on Richards statement.
The Nevada promoter is sore as in
growing mumps over some of the
statements that have been attributed
to Gleason. According to stories wired
east from San Fracisco, Gleason has
declared that the fight will be held in
San Francisco or nowhere. And Cof-
froth, who sailed not long ago for
Europe, told the reporters the day he
went away that he is the man behind
the gun. What / say goes" said
Mr. Coffroth. Mr.. Richards lean fea-
lures were believed with froth when
he read that gem from the published
works of Coffroth. 1t made him a bit
madden than when he read what Glea-
son had to say.
Says It's All Money.
"Take it from me-" said Richard
"there isn't another man in the world
who has cent i'm this fight but Tex
Richard. Coffro+h hasn't penny in 1t
/ let Gleason declare himself in for
ore-half because 1 couldn't get Jeff's
signature unless / did. But Gleason
has not been called on to put up q
cent-and will not be. And he won't
! have anything to say about where the
| fight will be held, I'll do all the talking
that costs money on this affair. unless
| / find that the state law forbids It, In
that event, | may take it to California,
But mind this:
Jim Coffroth don't get his fist into
this They say that if the fight goes
to Frisco, ir must be held in the
pavilion at the ball park owned by
| Coffroth and Gleason. Well, it won'i
that's all Before I will allow thai
I'll by property and build my owr
pavilion. I've got the money to do il
| with--a1d I propose to see that Cof-
froth is kept out. Why the day VIZ
signed articles / went to the Copper
bank and drew out the SIS, 900 forfeit
money I put up in cash IL Jeffriet
and Johnson had wanted it, I wouiC
have put up the whole amount of TIL,
purse. 100000. / had 1t in the bank
and was prepared to make good.
MIR. Rickard bit he ed off /. fresH
cigar and mu.led his wrongs over ii
his mind. TlIen lie made a statemen
that threw fresh light on thewhol'
affair.
Wheels Within Wheels.
| "Jeffries and Berger lid he 'has
made cert7in promises ) Gleason
that he alone would be considered b,
them. Now, Jack johnson is a prett,
good friend Of mine. He wouldn't
see me get the worst of 1t. Gleason
and Coffroth put in ole bid for TIL,
fight, and then Gleason found on
where he was at. He came to me ant
we talked matters over. We could ge
the fight jointly, but neither one o
us could get it singly. / could hay,
tied up the whole thing, indefinitely, 4
had wanted to. So, / came here de
termined to get that fight, no matte
what the terms might be. / took CSlea.
son in. And | took him in without /
cent of money, mind you. I gave him
outright, hralf interest. But tina
doesn't mean that he can dictate /,
me. I'll hold that fight where / Sc
fit and don't you forget that for
minute. If the law interferes in Sal
Lake. then I'll go t. the coast. Blu
il / do it, 1t will be held in my owl
property-and net on any beIonginI
to Coffroth or Gleason.
Mining Men Back Him.
"Rickard is backed by the big min
ing men of Utah, who want to see til
fight held there. The governor Of Utal
has intimated that he is not certain
that he will allow 1t, but that does no
seem to bother Richard He declare
he has the most influential men OF TIL
state with him, and that only the stat
law can keep him from holding TIL
fight i'm Salt Lake
WHAT'S. more, said he. this vii
be the only big fight where accomo
dations will be set aside for tn
women My wife will md out invita-
|, tions to a number Of the most promi
nent women in the country, and
number Of rings,de boxes win be fille
too. / already know that wives of
number Of millionaires are figuring o.
seeing this battle
Wanted.
A place for a girl going to school t
work for board and room