The Washington times., 1911-02-06
Former Champion Answers
Public Query for the
Last Time.
MAKES STATEMENT
AS AN ULTIMATUM
Will Never Enter Ring Again, Nor
Answer Another Question In
That Reference.

Los ANGELES, Feb. 6.-Botheret
ever since the Reno fight, when he los
the championship to Jack johnson, by
questions as to whether ne ever again
would enter the prize ring or don
gloves in public, James J. Jeffries today
gave out what he declared is the last
answer he will make to that query.
One the eve of his departure for a
pleasure trip to Mexico with Barney
Oldfield and his bushes partner, Jack
kipper, of this city, Jeffries has taken
this means of settling all rumors that
he and Oldfield plan to box in Mexico
City or elsewhere.
By JAMES ]. JEFFRIES.
For some time 1 have debated with
myself the question whether such an
article as this could accomplish the re-
suit that l desire it should: whether it
would be worth the time devoted to its
preparation, / have decided affirma-
lively. l intend that what is written
here shall be an ultimatum in every
sense of the meaning of that word !;
one, the tenor of which cannot be mis-
interpreted. 1t is my hope that the pub
lie at large will consider my final word
on the subject that has caused me more
personal inconvenience than can be i'm
agined. l refer to the question whether
! ever again shall enter the ring.
81 shall not attempt to say how many
times l have answered that query dur
ing the last six months. Hardly a day
has gone by in that period without that
question being put to me. Day after
day l have answered it seriously and
sincerely. l have stated that I never
shall enter another ring. But the news
papers and public have refused to &C
eept my word.
Won't Stay Settled.
ct has come to the point where I
and the members of my household re-
spond to the doorbeif ring and the
telephone calls.switb the same reply
to the almost Inevitable question. on
our lips. If somef one were to at
tempt to test your patience by ask
ing you a certain question. say for
instance, how old, are you? day in
and day out, how long do you think
you could go TO the door or to the
telephone. hear the question asked
and answer it without losing your
peace of mind For half a year, do
you think?
IL "OulU DG W CApldil "lidl
1t is to go through such an experience.
In my case, it has bden for more pro-
Noking than il would be in the example
cited above, for the reason that instead
of one person putting the question to
ire each day, the query has come from
innumerabIe sources.
do YOU realize how tiresome this
constant replying to query that APP
pears idiotiC to me, in my position.
could become? Every conceivable op-
portunity to ask this question has been
seized upon by the public and the news
papers.
The Very Last Answer.
MY purpose in writing this article
Is to give to the United Press the last
answer 1 shall make TO the question Of
whether I shall ever return TO the ring:
Under no circumstances shall / ever
again participate in a public prize ring
contest or exhibition. l have retired
from the ring for all time"
This is the decision / made months
In effect it is the answer 1 have given
so often to the question asked in one
form or another as to whether L would
ever be seen in the ring again.
AT the risk of being considered arbi-
trnky, peevish, call 1t what you will, /
shall hereafter refuse to answer any
query bearing upon the possibility of my
Te-entering the fighting game"
Copyright, 1911, by the United Press
Association)