The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-29
Doctor Benjamin Ide Wheeler
and Nicholas Murray Butler
Have Discussion.
DOCTOR WHEELER SEEMS
TO FAVOR THE CONTEST
At Least, Admits That the Gen
eral Public Is Taking
An Interest.
BY Leased Wire to The Tribune.

By Leased Wire 10 Inc Tribune.
NEW YORK, May 2S.-Dr Benz Ide
Wheeler. president Of the University OF
California. and Dr. Nicholas Murray But
Ter. president OF the Columbia unlver-
sity. sat in the Waldorf Astoria hotel
this afternoon and discussed with mis-
givlngs the attention which is being paid
In the cast 10 the approaching conflict
between James JeftrIes and Champion
Arthur John johnson In the prize ring
at San Francisco on Independence day.
81 wish" said DR.. Wheeler opening the
argument, that the eastern newspapers
would talk about something else besides
the fight In connection with the fair
state OF California. which l love-
DR., Butler, who is one OF America s
greatest exponents OF world peace and
who at the Lake Mohonk conference re-
Gently spoke In harsh and bitter words OF
international statesmen who are respon-
sible for warfare. introduced new angle
without the prize fights We might degen-
crate into race of mollycoddles.
'If people won't give us credit for
anything but prize fights, think we
ought TO get rid OF the prize hght III
California" he said.
Attitude of Governor.
President Butler continued: Cover
nor Gillette says we cannot get rid of
this particular prize fight according to
the laws OF the state"
"At any rate, we got rid OF IL on our
side Of the bay" he replied "They can
not hold 1t in Emeryvile because the
sentiment Of the people forced the dis
Mayor Mccarthy OF San Francisco
says the people want it, put in the rep
ortorial chronicler of this discussion.
We'll. perhaps most Of them do" DR.,
Wheeler admitted. but we don't want
IL on our side OF the bay"
President Butler, who had been list
here, professor, how are you going to get
rid of mollycoddles without prize fight
"Oh. don't want mollycoddles any
in a shocked tone. II ike the struggle
and ! should like to put on the gloves
and get in the ring myself for that:
and Professor Wheeler looked as III he
would like to show what he could do with
the padded mltts.
DO you think prize fighting has a
great cultural effect?" asked President
Butler.
President Wheeler looked peeved for a
moment and doubtful expression crossed
his countenanCe.
Putting on the gloves may have a
cultural effect" he said with a world Of
skcpticism In his voice, but the crowd
which is brought together by a prize
reporters always ask me about the fight
the first thing when they come to inter-
View me?"
"Tha; is what I should like to know
too" put in President Butler.
Doubts General Interest.
Surely so many people are not inter
ested In the fight. The sporting editors
evidently think that because they are
interested that every one else is There
is a mistake the papers make.
quite so. quite So said the western
colleglan quite heartily.
why" exclaimed President Butler,
warming to his subject. there Is not one
person out OF every hundred who ever
heard OF this fight"
President Wheeler here FASTENED to
demur.
They all know the names Jeftries and
Johnson" said he.
Perhaps not in the university pre-
can take the first hundred people you
meet In the streets" continued the New
York professor, "and ask them what they
think OF the big fight and they won't
know what you are talking about"
DR.. Wheeler arose and looked out into
busy Thlrty-fourth street,
do you see that cab driver?" he asked.
DR. Butler said he did.
Now. to test your theory, suppose we
go out and ask him II he thinks Jeffrles
"That wouldn't be fair test" objected
DO you suppose that all these people
sitting around" said DR.. Wheeler. point
ing to the hotel lobby. would not like
to go out and see the fight?"
The reporter said he thought they
would.
The two learned professors shook their
heads gloomlly and the reporter departed
while they launched into an animated dig
cuseion as to the astral significance OF
Halley's comet.