Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-01-10
PALzER IS WHITE HOPE
motor of Jeffries-Johnson
Match.
STUFF CHAMPIONS ARE MADE OF
Thinks ''Iowa Farmer May be
Groomed Into Champions Decorah-
ian is Most Likely Champion
Winner of All.

New York, Jan. S.-"There's a
fortune waiting for the man who
discovers the white conqueror OF
Jack Johnson. The moving pictures
OF the fight in which johnson Is de-
feated by a white heavyweight will
alone be worth half a million dol
lars"
Tex Rickard sat in a big chair at
the Waldorf Astoria, blew cloud
of smoke from his ''imperfecto" and
meditated. The man who hung I'D
the $101, 900 purse for johnson and
Jeffries at Reno spoke snappily and
his small brown eyes seemed fired
with the idea of promoting cham
pionship battle that would bring
about the triumph of white fighter.
Right now Johnson and his title
are safe,'' went on Riekard, "but
another year, or year and a half, the
big negro may find himself in the
ring with his white master. For in
stance, he may find himself battering
this fighter, AL. Palzer, on the chin
until the bones in his hands give
way.
II have looked over the crop of
white hopes here and in Europe and
have seen but one who seems to pos
sess the makings of champion. He
is the big fellow Palzer. He mas the
strength, the physique. the founda-
tion of which champions are made.
A year or so of careful nursing and
instruction and Johnson will have
his hands full beating him.
How about the Englishman, Bonn
bardier Wells? You have been quot
ed as speaking enthusiastically OF
him." the writer asked. Rickard
hesitated second before replying
then said:
Wells Is a very good man, we'll
built and good with his hands and
feet and might beat the rest of the
white men now. He is of the Jim
Corbett type. He Is we'll thought of
in England. He got lot of pres
tige out of being matched with John
son, but it is lucky for him that the
fight was called off. Had the fight
come off as scheduled Wells perhaps
would not be enjoying the same
popularity today any place." e
rs Wells a better man than Pal
zer?"
"As fighting proposition and a
champion contender / prefer Palzes.
The big farmer has the fighting in
stinct that's admirable in a fighter.
He's fast and always tearing in. A
hard punch doesn't check him much.
All he needs is development.
"Ive been told" continued Tex,
that O'Rourke doesn't want any of
Johnson's game just. yet. O'Rourke
is wise. He can afford to go slowly
with Palzer, in fact, don't think he
should have matched him with Flynn
SO soon. I'd pick something easier,
some big fellow like himself first
ana then after this Carl Morris. Af-
ter that, in my opinion, he'd be
ready for Flynn, not now"
1t was suggested that Tex evident
ly figured Palzer valuable fighting
proposition. Indeed do" snapped
Rickard. "O'Rourke has turned
down an offer OF $4,000 for his con-
tract with Palzer. and don't blame
him. He's worth lot more"
Whats your opinion of Carl Nor
ris as champion contender" the
writer interrupted
"He won't do" and Tex bit of a
piece of cigar as his teeth snapped
together with emphasis. Hes big.
strong, and no doubt as game as any
body would want, but he's too slow.
He has no natural speed and abso-
llutely lacks the necessary fighting
instinct He has not the desire to
tear in and annihilate the other fel-
low that Palzer has. I've seen him
drop his hands to his sides when he
ought to have been swinging them at
the other fellow"
The conversation then switched to
| the Reno fight. "Is 1t true that
Johnson was to have laid down to
Jeffries and that he ran out on the
agreement two days before the
fght?" Tex was asked
There's nothing to that story
replied Tex with an air of finality
He added that the pictures were a
financial success. his last report
from the picture people showing
l$25s,o0O earned.