Evening star., 1915-02-06
PLAYERS DAY NEARS| SMITH DEFEATS KING
Magnates viii Fade After Ma
tionaI League Meeting.
WILLARD's RECORD WEAK
White Hopes Ring Accomplish
ments Overshadowed by Those
of Jack johnson.

->G<" IOF.h, teDTCdry o--N iln
holding of the National League sched-
ule meeting here next Tuesday the
base ball magnates of organized base
ball will begin to edge out OF the spot
light In favor of the players. The win
ter months mark the season of the
magnates' greatest prominence. and
this has been particularly true of the
league executives and club ov ners
since the world series. The struggle
between organized and independent
base ball interests has forced the play
er. in his active role. we'll into the
background. With the call for spring
training and the announcement of
schedules real base ball enthusiasm
will begin to revive and the possibili-
ties Of the 1915 season be outlined.
Before this situation in the national
sport can be reached, however, there
are number of important rulings. le-
gal and executive, which must be clari-
fled. The schedule meeting of the
he1S and League tSe aseady has
will hold its final conference in
this city next Tuesday. At this
gathering the magnates Of the senior
league will pass officially upon the
and also upon several resolutions and
suggestions passed or considered at
the meeting held early i'll December.
Chief among these is the rule limiting
the major portion of the pennant race
and the proposals to deny the with
drawal of waivers once requested upon
player as well as the proposition to
increase the number OF games in the
world series. General opinion among
the National League magnates appears
to indicate that the twenty-one player
rule will be rescinded at this meeting.
Passed at a time when 4 financial re-
trenchment policy was strongly advo-
Gated. a careful consideration of the
effects of the rule has led to the be-
lief that it will work hardship upon
the majority of the clubs without ef-
fecting a saving in keeping with its
drastic results.
Regarding the proposed rule against
the withdrawal Of waivers requested,
there is wide difference OF opinion
and definite action on this proposition
discussed generally among club owners
and managers since the December
meeting and there is much doubt re-
garding the effect of such a regulation.
1t appears likely that the proposal will
be tabled for further consideration. The
games from seven to nine or even
eleven contests apparently has been
dismissed for the present at least. II
Is probable the matter will be given
but passing mention in business be-
fore the league.
A comparison of the ring records OF
Jack johnson and Jess Willard, who are
scheduled to meet in battle for the
world heavyweight championship one
month from today, shows the marked
advantage of the titleholder over the
challenger in actual glove campaign
ing. johnson began his pugilistic ca
reer In 1901 and since that year has
figured in seventy-eight bouts for a
total Of $50 rounds. During this stretch
contests by knockouts and twenty
seven by decisions. He also participat-
cd in twelve no-decision matches and
seven draw bouts. In addition johnson
has won two battles as the result of his
opponents fouls; lost one. on his own
foul; one by knockout and three on
adverse decisions by referees.
Willard in his four years in the ring
has met twenty-nine opponents, these
battles totaling 205 rounds. His rec
knockouts and five by decision. Three
no-decision, one draw. one bout lost
on foul and two by being outpointed
complete Willard's ring figures. Ac-
cording to these tabulations Willards
percentage of victories is 1853 to John =
sons .692 and his percentage of knock
outs .586 to the champions 800.
In the class of opponents met, how
ever. Johnson has decidedly the bet
ter record. Because Of his lengthy
ring career the names of majority of
the leading heavyweights of the past
ten years are found linked with his in
the annals OF the sport. Almost with
out exception these same pugilists had
been defeated or had retired from
active boxing circles before the advent
Of Willard. His principal bouts have
been against other white hopes, who
have sprung into prominence within
the past two or three years. Against
these men Wiilard's work has been
mediocre. He fought ten-round no.
decision bouts with Arthur Peiky and
Luther McCarty in New York city; lost
twenty-round bout on points to Gun
boat Smith in San Francisco and out
pointed Carl Morris in a ten-round
match in New York.
The-f1rst national tennis tournament
OF 1915 will open in New York city next
Friday, when the sixteenth annual i'll
door championship tourney play Is in
augurated. Singles and doubles will be
contested and the winners will be
heralded as the champions for the
present year. Entries have been re-
ceiyed or promised from the leading
nlayers of Boston, Philadelphia, Wash
inetou and New York. G. F. Touchard
is the present holder of the singles
title, and w. c. Grant and c. c. Schafer
the doubles champions.
oannryn am IxyuYTE I'M ETNAI