The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-19
JACK JOHNSON
SH|FTY IN TALK
The Black Champion Beats
Around Bush and Makes
Many Contradictions

Chicago, Feb. 19.-'Jack johnson
is a queer fish," remarked a man who
keeps. close tab on the developments
Of the pugilistic belt. He says he
won't tackle Sam McVey or Jim Flynn
unless he gets 100000 cold, but de-
clares he is willing to trade punches
with Jim Corbett just for the fun OF
ence? What Jack johnson says mat
ters little. 1t is what he does that
counts. And the man who al pre-
dict. with any degree of certainty, the
nature of Johnson's activities during
the next few months must be gifted
with second sight in an extraordinary
degree.
Here are a couple Of guesses: II
johnson boxes either McVey or Flynn
the remuneration will be considerably
less than $4,000. If johnson and
Corbett meet face to face there will
be no bloodshed.
Johnson's speeches n actions for
many months past have been a tumble
of contradictions. He has muddled
things to such an extent that at times
it seems as though he is laughing in
his sleeve at all creation. He went to
England and denounced America. He
came back here and fiouted England.
While across the pond he entered
INV ~ SoAASA " WI q ~ ~
tralia. He changed his mind and gave
out that he had retired. He was so
persistent in telling he was through
with the vanities of the ring that ex-
perts the world around began arguing
as to who was best entitled to grab the
laurels.
When appealed to for an opinion,
johnson said he didn't care a rap who
claimed the championship or who
fought for it. He was out Of it and
took nc further interest in it.
When johnson came back he said,
with v a suspicion of a smirk or
smile, that he couldn't for the life of
him imagine how that retirement
umo got around. He had not re-
tired. No. indeed! He was still in
the game with both feet inc both
price. Let some one just iirt a check
for 100000 in his face and he would
sign articles quick enough to make the
check giver's head swim.
1t Is no fallacy to state that there
was general satisfaction in sportdom
when johnson mad known he was
still in the game. 1t may be that the
public resented the idea of johnson
breaking away from the ring unheat-
n or it may be the myriads who are
interested in boxing felt that with the
master heavyweight withdrawn from
the game the bottom had fallen out
Of the top notch division.
Anyhow. Johnson's announcement
that he was ready to take up the cud.
gels renewed interest in the heavy
weights, and there val much specula.
ton as to where the first challenger
would come from. Mcintosh, the Aus
tralian promoter, renewed his offer of
a match with McVey. and johnson &C.
copied. (,
or Easter Monday" said johnson.
A little later the news was forth.
coming that the match would take
place In Paris. but that was one shift
or contradiction for which johnson
was not responsible. The "wowser
element" al the opponents of boxing
are called In Australia, had begun to
agitate against McIntosh's all-black
Queensberry attraction. and the far
seeing promoter thought a change of
venue advisable. June %. the even
ing of the day on which the Grand
Prix is run. was fixed upon as the
date.
Then Jack Curley. as active Drained
an arranger of arenic spectacles as
eve traversed Publicity avenue,
thought up a grand assault at arms
between Jack Gotch johnson and Jim