Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-11-21
BY JAMES j. CoRBETT
Former heavyweight Champion o.
the World

the World
New York, Nov. 2l--(Specal to the
Daily Capital JournaD AFTER all the
wire pulling and manipulation on the
part of his hackers it begins to look as
it Jess Willard will not get first crack
at Jack johnson for the world s title.
The latest news concerning the future
engagement of the champion is that
either Sam McVea or Battling Jim
Johnson is to be his next opponent, the
battle to take place in Havana, Cuba,
the latter part Of March or early in
April, 1915.
have this information direct from
n gentleman representing Mr.. George
Bradt, of Havana, who is at the head
ofthe syndicate organized to promote a
series Of heavyweight matches during
the coming Winter and Spring season,
According to my informant the plans
originally called for u fight to a finish
between Sam Langford and Sam McVea,
the winner to meet johnson. But IL
developed that McVea's manager,
George Lawrence, at present in New
York City, did not care for any Of the
'tar baby s. game and entered his
objections to Langford being made a
principal. Then it is also thought that
johnson objected to any plans which
would give him Langford for an OPP
ponent.
II has been announced in the New
York papers that Jack johnson and
McVea have been matched, but accord.
ing to my information this is / trifle
premature, McVea's s participation in a
match with the champion depends en-.
tirely upon the success he meets with in
the preliminary skirmish with jim
johnson. The winner Of that bout is to
get the coveted chance for the title.
That the proposed importation Of the
"nigger fighters" as they are termed
in Cuba, Is not at all popular with GER
tain interests in Havana Is evident by
the following excerpt from recent
issue Of the Cuba News, a weekly news
paper published In that city;
"The Cuba News desires to enter an
emphatic protest against the publisher
OF the Havana Post (Mr Bradt) to con.
vince the people Of Cuba that Ameri.
cans, and especially that class Of
Americans who have the means and the
desire for foreign travel, chase around
after second rate nigger prize fighters,
and spend lavish sums for the oppor.
tunity of seeing them bruise each other
up The News right here brands the
statement that 10000 tourists would
come to Cuba to see two niggers put up
perhaps fake fight is a false and non.
sensical statement, and the man who
made 1t knew IL was false and non.
seusical when he made it.
"rhe publisher Of the Havana Post
may be niger lover and enjoy such
spectacles as he purposes to pull off
here In Havana, but IL he is he stands
atone In his class. Instead Of 10000
tourists coming TO Cuba to witness a
second rate boxing match there would
not be 100 persons actually attracted by
the fight, and anyone who has seen
prize fights aud know prize fighters
and the followers Of the game knows
that there are not 10000 persons In the
United States who would pay $40 to see
langford and McVey fight to say
nothing Of spending twenty times that
sum for the expenses Of their trip
The New York papers enormously an.
uouneed a bout between Jack johnson
ana McNea, and nothing has been said
about the preliminary match between
McVoa and Jim Johnson 10 determine
which is to be the champion 5 oponeut.
From the foregoing article 1t would ap.
pear that the promoters of the proposed
matches will meet with considerable op,
position In their attempt to introduce
the sport in Cuba through the medium
Of negro Fighters. The statement that
the United States would send 10000
people 20 see IAngford aud McVea
fight (this was printed before the shift
had been made), is absurd. IL Is OK.
tremely doubtful if q bakers dozen
would travel TO Cuba even TO see John.
son and Langford, and that layout
would be made up solely Of newspaper
men who would 20 because IL came as
part OF their duties. but with the big
negro population in Havana the venture
may be able to make little money,
leaving the greater profits 20 come from
the sale Of moving picture rights
Anyway Il looks as II Willard has
heen left In the cold for the time beinb
---
While on the sub iect OF negro fighters
word concerning this Harry Wills the
New Orleans heavy weight now matched
to box Sam Langford twenty rounds in