Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08
MARVEL
ASPRESS AGENT.
Corbett Says Credit Is Due
the Negro for His CONVEX
sationaI Ability.
TALKS OF CAMP MAKE-UPS
Former Champion Compares
Sparring Partners of White
and Black HeavyWeights.
BY JAMES J. CORBETT.

Copyright, 1910. by the Tribune Company. Tn
authorized reproductions OF this article will
be pf0secuted.)
1t doesn't seem to me as if we were
giving Jack Johnson all the credit to
which he seems entitled. Aside from
the somewhat rapid and remarkable
development OF his conversational pow
er, johnson always is digging up some
thing new for his reportoriai guests at
the training camp.
1t doesn't matter so much that he is
constantly revising his ideas. so long
as the readers get the new suggestions
on training and kindred subjects.
wouldn't even suggest that Lii Artha"
should engage any one to edit his copy.
because it's more amusing in the
original text.
The latest Of Johnson's ideas refer to
the engagement by Jeffries OF lot of
antediluvians as his sparring partners in
the Rowardennan training camp. On
the other hand, Johnson says he has en-
ga ged a lot of husky young fighters who
will not be afraid to exchange blows
with him in hot mixups and all OF them
weigh over 1870 pounds. What a con-
trast! Jeffries surrounded by a bunch OF
decrepit old men; Johnson exchanging
wallops with nervy lot of scrappers.
Corbett Says Negro "salves."
Now Just read this extract from one of
Johnson's characteristic interviews: II In
tend to fight Jeffries from the tap Of the
gong. By this 1 do not mean to wade
into him and be careless, but I shall
not be afraid to mix matters" Isn't that
the real salver? And haven't we all been
making a great mistake in believing that
Johnson was inclined to defensive work!
It may be that such new ideas have
caused johnson to engage colored
physician at $3.50 week for his training
camp. I have not been Informed whether
the voodoo man remains under contract
after July 4, but the fact OF his engage
ment portends trouble on or before that
date.
Let's see. johnson left Chicago for his
training camp at Ocean Beach, Cal, with
a party OF about ten. There were three
women, which brings the list down to
one or two camp followers, and We have
three or four able-bodied scrappers. in
Guiding Sig Hart. Strictly speaking,
George Cotton, protege or Choynskl'
and Marty Cutler, a wrestler-hghter, are
the '.lot Of huskies'' who are willing to
brave death by tearing into the man who
isn't afraid of Jenries, and who will not
be Careless, Notwithstanding. Then, OF
course, there is the negro doctor.
Talks Of Jeff's Camp.
Now, on the other hand, what has
Jeff" got to fit him for this battle on
July 4? There's Joe Choynski, now in
charge Of the training camp at Rowan
dennan. who used to be some in the good
old days, particularly when he once put
johnson to sleep; Sam Berger, once re-
garded by Jeff as a good trial horse:
Bob Armstrong, another grand old has
been whom "Parson" Davies once
thought might win a championship; Billy
Papke. regarded at one time as clever
piddleweight; Frank GOtch, a pretty
good wrestler; Sam Langford, who ex
poets to Join camp in May. and Jim Cor
bett, who, johnson says, never did know
nothing no way"
Now, it's a question in my mind wheth-
err after all these years of filing a train
ing camp with good old has beens'' we
haven't been making a serious mistake
in overlooking such blOOdthirsty fellows
as Cotton and Cutler, who. Johnson
opires. are ready to fight from the drop
OF the hat but, of course, without being
careless.
Suppose that the good old h. BIS in JEFF
fries. camp should fill his unsophisticated
head with lot of stuff about the way
they whipped a lot of amateurs, ''stiffs''-
and others-and "Jeff'' should get into the
ring July to meet regular gorilla with
entirely new ideas and the golden smile?
Well let's hope for the best.