Evening star., 1914-04-05
BY T. S. ANDREWS.

Special Dispatch TO The STAR.
MILWAUKEE. Wis, April 4.-Some
of the boxing promoters are begin
ming to take lesson from the theatri
cal syndicate and it will not be surpris-
ing in the near future to hear of some
of the prominent boxers being under con
tract to certain managers or promoters
at a stipulated salary. In fact, this
ing game-that is, to have the boxers
| work upon sGary basis and not for
a purse or percentage. At the present
time this applies to England, although
there are Il couple of cases of this kind
down east The man to start the ball
rolling in this line is James White, iinan-
cier of London. who tried to pull off the
Wells-Jollnson contest three years ago.
but owing to the sentiment against the
British champion meeting coiored man
the bout was called off. 1t is understood
that Mr.. White has gotten a bunch OF
the best British boxers under curious
contract. He pays them salaries every
week and provides any side bet that may
be required. All purseA money belongs
to him. and the boys mist box any one
he fixes matches with. 1t is said that
Bombardier Wells gets S12o Il week and
that sid Smith. the eX-flyweight cham
pion, gets S36 a week, while Bell Beynon.
who figured as champion for short
time draws $40 Il week. There are other
boxers whom Mr.. White has secured con-
troll of. but nothing has been said as to
what salaries they are receiving This
story may be denied, but Just the same
one of the contracts was seen by
very close friend of the writer, and he
also assures me that the Wells con-
tract is a fact. Under the agreement
none of the boxers can get out without
giving six months notice. but Mr. White
can dismiss them or cancel the agree
ment at any time that he desires. This
may cause little stir in boxing circles.
but the story is based on facts and 1t
will not be surprising if the same con-
ditions are brought about in the states
before a great while, If the stars continue
to demand the exorbitant figures they
have in the past.
Buck Grouse, the Pittsburgh middle
weight, seems to be getting PACK IN
better form than he has displayed for
the past two years For time Buck
looked like a star horse winner. but ne
dropped back again and lost sight or
the championship goal. Then ne maze
a trip to Panama to try and forget his
troubles in the north, and no doubt 1t
has done him a world of good, for since
his return he has been fighting In much
better shape than ever before. ~ ae mas mas
his showing in each one has been all
that could be desired. He stopped
George Ashe. whom Tom O'Rourke Of
New York thought was a world heater.
in three rounds. He had no trouble de-
feating Larry Williams of Philadelphia
in six-round contest. and he also
shaded Jack McCarron of Philadelphia,
whom Jack O'Brien termed his fifty
thousand dollar prize beauty" To make
matters more interesting. Buck defeated
young Mike Donovan in a ten-round
bout at New York. and now is anxious
,Jn -irl, n Iexlra aitrhf in, he
country over the short distance route
or the marathon
1t is very evident that Jack johnson,
the colored champion. is planning to
put over another one on the followers
of boxing. Reports have been sent out
repeatedly from Europe that Johnson
was hog fat and unable to get in any
battle A we'll known boxing manager
who has been visiting in France for
some time arrived here the other day
and was very strenuous in his denial
about Johnson's condition. Il cannot
understand why these reports were sent
out" the gentleman remarked. las there
is absolutely no truth to them, at least
not at this time. 1t may be that John
ago. but If he was he must have been
training the quiet since that
time, for 1 saw him only three weeks
ago, and he was anything but what the
with Frank Moran in Paris during June
has started the followers of boxing In
the gay capital to sit up and take
notice. and it will not be surprising If
a tremendous crowd witnesses the bat
tie. 1t was only natural that they
would try to figure out Johnson in poor
condition in order to give Moran claim
to better chance to defeat him. but
you can take it from me that the big
negro has been doing a lot of pre-
liminary training on the quiet, and when
they meet he will not be hog fat. as
some of them claim. Moran has made
quite hit over there. and there are
many of them who believe he will sur
prise the colored man with his hitting
power and cleverness. That may be-
but just the same it will 'be surprise
to me if Johnson is defeated. I was
also in London. and there was con-
siderable interest there in the match.
and many sporting men from King
Georges land will cross the channel to
witness it..
There have been organizations of all
kinds--that is, in the sporting line where
in promoters and others have taken the
leading part. but now there Is a move
ment on foot to start an organization
for the purpose OF protecting and pro-
noting legitimate sports and to put the
high pedal upon ilegitimate ones. 1t is
intended to have the sporting editors of
the various papers in the east and west
in this organization. Jay Davidson. one
Of the well known sporting writer's of Los
Angeles, Cal, has interested himself In
this movement. and he Is supported by
other sporting writer's Of the coast cities.
His idea is to form national body to
exercise general supervision over sports,
especially in boxing, wrestling and racing
He would have a national board similar
trolls base ball, and have branch orSani-