The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-30
VIII TE
AS REFEREE
Arouses Much Com.
ment-.. -..Spectators to
Be Searched


\ fight. has stirred up vast amount OF
Interest Wherever fight fans congre-
gate the matter seems to be the main
topic OF conversation today and so
marked is the attention given to
Whites selection that a rumor Is be.
Ing bruited about that the naming OF
the New Yorker holds much more
significance than is apparent on its
face
II is recalled that White was de-
clnred to be the dark horse among
the candidates for the position of
third man IN the ring at the time
that the two Asht principals had their
candidates and a hopeless deadlock
seemed to exist over the question
The names OF almost every available
man In the west had been mentioned
and promptly rclegeted TO the limbo
OF things not to be because OF OBJ
Jections raised by the opposing fac
lions. While the dispute was waging
hotly and the chance Of on agreement
seemed very remote. the name Of
White was casually brought forward
and the impression from that time for
ward gained ground that the EASTERN
er, probably would be chosen as q
compromise candidate
Then come the naming of Tex Rick
ard and the strong endorsement of the
promoter by both Jeffries and John
son But even the Official declaration
regarding Rickard did not convince all
OF the San Francisco fans that the
question had been finally disposed OF
and many professed TO believe that
the announced choice was only ruse
to give the interested parties further
time In which to thrcsh over the prob.
lem and come together on an exper-
fenced referee who would be satisfac-
tory TO all concerned
The White talk persisted. but as
tine wore on and the bitterness of
the controversy was tempered by
lack OF further agitation. II gradually
became TO be accepted as a fixed fact
that Rickard would ofllciate as tho
arbiter OF the great battle. And with
the startling announcement from Gov
ernor Glllett that the fight would not
be permitted in California and all tho
strcssful developments that quickly
followed. the referee matter was lost
sight OF almost onurely and until last
night. when the news came OF Whites
selection as the second referee. II had
figured only sporadlcally in the gen
eral comment on the battle OF the
century
Rickard. however. is giving not the
slightest heed TO all the excited de-
bate over Whites appointment, When
sought out by the correspondents and
asked to shed light on the reason for
all the turmoil. he smiled the same
inscrutable smile that alway
his lips when the newspaper men be.
siege him for what the ring frater'
nifty terms low down" information
you don't really believe everything
you hear" be parricd. as II amused.
"Why. there's absolutely nothing In
the appointment OF White except what
Il means. I am the referee and Will
certainly offlciate In that capacity on
the afternoon of July 4th unless /
break my neck or lose my voice trying
10 answer all the questions that are
fired at me a thousand times day.
Naturally, we must take precautions
against any accident to myself that
would prevent me from serving and so
we have appointed White as an alter
nate He Will be right at the ring
side. OF course, but he won't have
anything at all TO do with the light
unless it happens that I'm unable to
all the lob. and there's mighty little
chance that I won't be Johnny on the
spot. Don't pay nny attention TO what
you hear unless II comes straight and
The only straight talk on this referee
proposition is what I'm handing you
And there the whole thing rests.
10 Ic a EnnrfinD cPleh-
rlty whose prominence in the cast
has generally mado his name more
or less familiar In this section OF the
country. He is looked upon by the
fight crowd here as one OF the most
experienced ring men OF the perlod.
They refer TO him az an "old-timer.
hut all seem inclined To respect MS
eminence IN the referee cult and bis
appointment as a substitute official
for the approaching fight is COM
meDded on all sides
A peculiar coincidence concerning
his connection with this contest is
that IL was in Nevada that White
first made himself known In the west.
At the time OF tho CorbettFttzsim.
mons fight I'm Carson City, White act
ed as the personal representative OF
William Brady. the manager Oh Cor
bctt And 1t was that fight that
brought Jim JeffrieS sharply 10 the at
tention OF the flstic fraternity Jof-
fries was then one OF Corbetts spar
ring partners and was in Gentle
man Jim's" corner when the pompa-
doured champion went down In de-
feat before the shifty punches OF
"Lanky Bob" II is said that White
and Jeffries struck up quite friend
ship then. n friendship that has rip
cned with the years that have fol-
lowed And II was at JeftrieS sug-
gestion, made through Sam Berger,
his manager. that White was named
as the second referee Tor this hgnt,
and any possibility of picking the
Johnson candidate. Judge" Francis
Nelson OF Canada who was proposed
by Manager Flanagan. went gllmmer'
Ing with the receipt Of telegram
from Nelson stating that he could not
be here on the fourth.
Efforts were made TO get in touch
with White last night. but no re-
piles were received TO the many urg-
ent messages Sent from Reno asking
II he would accept the appointment.
Most Of the wires were directed
1 to New York. but word later was pass.
/ ed around that White already had
II N..lE hAA III u sHAE