El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-26

FEW YORK, Dec. 26.-As I have
M been asked to do one of the
most difficult things in the
worldwide a story about myself
viii make a desperate effort to do so.
There is no doubt that the main rea-
son ] am in the limelight at present
is that / am matched to fight Jack
Johnson for the heavyweight cham
piOnship Of the world. I wish to say
right here that I believe 1 viii bring
back the title to the white race.
That may seem rather chesty state
ment, but all Will agree with me that
if a man is not able to realize his
worth in any line, even in boxing, he
is working under a big handicap. II
I suffer defeat at the hands Of John
son, no one viii ever hear a chirp from
me. Then and there I will be through
with fighting.
1 believe that a white heavyweight
champion of the world would do more
to boost boxing than if the title were
held by a negro. Even Johnson will
admit the truth of that argument and
other good dusky boxers, like Jeanette
and Langford, have acknowledged that
JOhnsOn's being champion has put
damper on the game.
Is Out for biggest Game.
There are being printed about me a
lot Of stories in which several fight
managers want to know why I will not
fight their charges. Here is the only
answer:
! am after one particular goal-Jack
Johnson.
It might be added, for the benefit
Of those managers who are trying to
get publicity indirectly through me,
that their slurs have no effect on me
When ] get through with the Johnson
fight, and if fortune favOrs me, they
viii have no trouble in getting en-
gagements for their men.
Foolish to Take Chance.
Turning to the question of taking an
outside chance before I meet Johnson,
it is easy to show how foolish such
a move would be. in the first place
Jack Curley and Tom Jones We're I'M
der heavy expense to arrange this
match.
A few weeks ago Curley made a
hurried trip across the ocean to get
Johnson's signature to the articles
Jones has been busy getting up all the
details working so that when the scene
and time Of the battle are definitely
decided upon the principal part of the
program can be arranged without any
time being lost.
Then, again, I must impress the fact
that to stage this affair viii cost at
least $4,000; and a syndicate arranged
by Jones and Curley has already
pledged Itself to furnish all the finan-
cial backing necessary.
When it is realized what a sum Of
money is being expended and what a
sum will be expended, one can easily
see how foolish it would be for me to
risk getting hurt by meeting those
dangerous heavyweights who are now
yelling for fight with me.
Must Protect Backers.
am bound in honor to protect the
gentlemen who are risking their mon
ey and time to give me the chance
of winning the title from Johnson.
Few people realize what it would
mean to me to win the heavyweight
title from Johnson. If I never secured
a penny for performing the feat I
would feel amply paid for bringing the
title back to the white race
Became Boxer by accident.
7 became boxer by accident. Out
side Of the accident it was caused by
the necessity of making some money.
] have been earning my own living
ever since I left school at IS years Of
age During my school days 7 did odd
Jobs such as helping to round up the
herds Of cattle to be shipped to the
Chicago and Kansas City stockyards |
and riding horses to the range.
Soon I drifted into the horse bust !
ness and saved a few thousand dollars. |
in order 70 save money I denied my
self all luXuries. A friend induced me |
10 go into a scheme to corner the 1
horse market Of our locality, and as I
we were not financiers and had not /
enough capital. I went broke.
Caught Boxing Fever.
] was i'm Oklahoma City about this