The Washington herald., 1913-09-01
PELKEY NOT TO
DRAW COLORLINE
White HEAVYWEIGHT Cham
pion Thinks He Has Right
to Battle Jack Johnson.
LANGFORD CHALLENGES
Boston Tar Baby" Should Be Recog-
nized If "White Hope" Is De-
elared Winner of Fight.
LANGFORD CHALLENGES
ny W. w. NAUGHToN.


San Francisco, Aug ST. want II to be
understood that I will never box a col
ored man. Some time ago, when the
promoters decided to discourage the
making of mixed matches and contests
were arranged to decide who was the
white heavyweight champion, I thought
1t one Of the best moves ever made in
pugilism. / am still of that way of
thinking. call myself the white cham
pion and feel that I have every right
to do so, but II the public took the stand
that ought to accept matches with
negroes, I'd be willing to drop out of
the game entirely."-Arthur Pelkey.
Il think he is right. or course,
fought negro when I met Jack John
son, but II I had my time to go over
again he would wait long time for
a match. Tommy Burns.
In the words given above, White Cham
pion Arthur Pelkey made his declara ton
Of principle and intention when he first
arrived in San Francisco from the North,
and in the exact language credited to
him, Tommy Burns accorded his protege
moral support.
offered Match.
Now both Burns and Pelkey have ex-
perienced a change Of heart. The
been offered a match with Jack John
son in Paris and has fully made up his
mind to accept, "if the terms are right"
In palliation OF this double somersault.
Burns says that he Is satisfied johnson
has reached a stage where any young
husky can lick him. He adds that he
feels he is duty bound to send Pelkey
after johnson.
II lost the championship belonging TO
the white race and think ! ought TO do
all in my power to recover it, says
Burns.
very commendable impulse, Tommy,
old boy, but can't you see that you are
putting Arthur in a doubtful light? You
say johnson is easy 10 lick, and you
leave Pelkey open TO the suspicion that
he barred Johnson before because he
feared the big negro.
All the time we were patting Pelkey on
the back. thinking him actuated by high
spirited, unselfsh motives.
Smith After johnson.
Well, 1t looks as though there is to
be a return to the old order of things.
Pelkey is not the only one who has
proved recreant to the principles OF the
modern order OF white hopes, for Gun
boat Smith-through Jimmy Buckley
is talking of fighting both Jack John
son and Sam Langford.
This, too, after Uncle Tom McCarey
had gone TO the expense of Offering a
white championship belt. The fat is In
the fire. and it looks as though magpie
matches will be as common as they
were a few years ago-at least, in places
where the authorities and the pro-
will stand for them.
Having shouted to the winds that the
HH fe
cerned, Mr.. PeIkey will scarcely be al
lowed to confine himself to halfway
measures. Having signited a willing
ness to meet Jack Johnson, he will have
to extend similar courtesies to one Sam
uel Langford.
Arthur might get around the dilemma
by announcing that Langford is in
eligible on the score that he is not easy
to lick" but it is doubtful If Burns
protege would humiliate himself thusly.
Langford Challenges.
No, sir. II the Johnson-Pelkey fight
took place, and Pelkey came out on
top, Langford would be ready with his
demand for a match and the public
would stand behind him. And even If
comes OF the Johnson-Pelkey
to be truthful, do not
has left himself wide open so far as
a challenge from Lansford is concerned.
Since he was willing to box one negro, |
he cannot very well refuse to box an
other.
II the bar is to be removed in con-
lection with championship contests, 1t
probably remains that America will see
,ery few such events In the future. 1t !
S easy for white hopes to turn fip-naps,
but the present places which have set
heir faces against mixed matches will |
tand pat.
There can be no mixed matches in |
Iew York and none in Los Angeles. |
While the local administration in San |
Francisco has not declared itself en- |
,hatically against such affairs, the |
curse pursued by the Governor when |
Johnson and Jeffries were matched to |
OK in San Francisco may be taken as |
n Indication OF what will happen II such |
. contingency arises again.
Nevada is through as a convincing
round for championship battles, and |
With conditions as described in other |
,ugiIistic centers of this country, it can
eadily be seen that the United States
TiIl only witness such championships as
ave white men for principals.
All Things CONSIDERED, IL might nave
cen better II Gunboat Smith and Ar
hur Pelkey had restrained their am
itions. II they had allowed their minds
D carry them back to the time sur
ounding the Jeffries-Johnson affair at
seno they would have recalled that
oxing became almost a dead letter. It
ook years to revive the sport and re-
tore interest in It.
Even now the sport of the gloves
eeds nursing, and another magpie
7orlds championship would be a men
ce to It