The Alaska citizen., 1912-02-05

stantial increase when he signs his
next agreement to play with the
/ Tigers. He is undoubtedly worth
much more to that club than he
has been getting. and should he de
mand $4,000 for the next three
years there is hardly chance of
being refused.
That figure appears enormous. to
be sure. and yet when it is compar-
ed with the salaries of other play
ers who are ordinary and cannot be
considered in the same class with
Cobb. it does seem that he would be
entitled to this money. OF course
much depends on what sort of show
ing Cobb makes next season. Should
he exhibit signs of deteriorating
the club would not want to tie it.
self up to an expensive contract.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 20. - The
latest advices from Australia tell
us that Tommy Burns wants to
come back. And he wants to come
back against Jack Johnson. too
statement that will make many of
the boys stand right up on their
toes and make high signs at one
another. But Tommy evidently is
on the square with what he says.
Anyhow. the Australian papers take
him seriously.
Il want to meet Johnson in
battle where clean breaking rules
are in order" declares Burns Il
am not foolish enough to lead N.Y.
self to believe that | can beat him
while he is doing all his rough
work in the clinches. He is too
big and too strong for me. But Just
let us fight as they fight in Eng
land, and | am sure that will be
returned the winner"
Burns always has been prejudic-
ed against Johnson. When the cham
pion defeated him in IA rounds in
Sydney three years ago. Tommy
came out with the statement that
big Jack could not punch And he
was backed up in this by many of
the spectators. 1t also will be
remembered that the fighht was
stopped and that Burns was bat
Ting desperately at the finish.
WhilA
been a great fighter, he is hardly
in Johnsons class. The big black
man has it on him too many WAYS.
He is taller. heavier. more scientific
and even better ring general.
What Tommy might be able to do
against black Jack in a clean break
battle remains to be seen, but he
certainly has no chance in a regu-
lar mixup
Battle Is Possibility.
A battle between Johnson and
Burns would prove just as interest
ing heavy weight event as any
other which the promoters might
arrange. Burns made a good show
ing against Johnson, which is more
than any other white hope who
ever met him managed TO do. And
it is out of the question to talk
about matching two blacks. They
would not draw peanuts
1t will not be at all surprising to
learn that Hugh Mcintosh, the Aus
tralian promoter, will shortly make
this match under the conditions that
Burns suggests. Johnson beat
Burns once. and it goes without
saying that he is still Supremacy
confident of his ability to turn the
trick again, even if Burns is armed
with batJleax and a nightstick
instead of gloves.
1t is useless to talk any more
about lightweight matches now that
Champion AID Wolgast is still an in.
valid, and likely to be one for many
months to come. On top of this,
| NV iAiuiiiSiCAl SuO"lIS WHICH rae
key Mcfarland made against Tommy
Murphy here Thanksgiving after
noon tends to subtract even more
interest from this particular diyis-
ion.
1t does not look as though we
VIII see any more good lightweight
matches till such time as McFar-
land shows some hitting powers or
Wolgast is thoroughly recovered, or
somebody from somewhere digs I'D
lightweight who is endowed with
a bit of class. The class is hard
to find these days of frenzied fin.
ancing in ring affairs. 1t never
was so scarce
Had So Many Lemons.
The Eastern experts tell us that
Grover Hayes and Joe Mandcr are
both bubbling over with class. This
may be true enough, but we can't
accept these statements as true till