The Washington herald., 1915-04-04

vana, Cuba, tomorrow; ohnsons
stake. and the men are to embark
on their epoch-marking Journey at
II o'clock in the morning.
These are the salient points in the
case. The speculative end is herewith
adyap,
1t is the humble opinion OF the
writer that willard has an excellent
chance of restoring the worlds
heavyweight championship to the
Caucasion race, proyided--this reser-
walton goes without predictton-BiG
Jess has a fighting heart as biG-or.
as small--as A pebble. By this we
wish TO convey that if Willard pos
sesses any kind of n fighting heart
at all he should have at least an even
chance with the dusky champion.
Willard has every natural advantage
in tomorrows big fight. He is taller.
heavier, more powerful, better devel-
oped proportionately, than Johnson.
Burly Jack will appear like a pigmy
when he ranges alongside Willard to-
morrow.
One most important essential in
Johnson's favor is his experience. He
has a master fighting brain; lis keen
TO improve his opportunities, and be-
sides he is arrogantly confident-on
the surface
johnson Fears Defeat.
Also. a physiological aspect into
the controversy. While outwardly
johnson seems cocksure of victory, II
is the general belief that in his heart
there turks an ingrown apprehension
that he may lose his title, and all the
emolument accruing therefrom. and
thus the source of his easy mode of
living will lie suddenly and effectively
off &c hpl n n
Johnson's mind more than all other
matters concerning the fight.
Willard will he sent the way gone
by all the other white hopes that
have met me. | will knock Jess out
inside of twenty rounds" is Johnson's
boast.
But such braggadacio can scarcely
mislead any one who has seen the
ridge OF superfious beef around
Johnson's waistline.
Il can hit harder. and am more
clever than willard. and he'll be
playthnE in my hands once ] get
warmed up" is the Cist Of Johnson's
next statement.
But even this fails to ring true to
any one who has noted the continued
Hhee1cc uC the champions celebrated
.-oiden smile" during the arduous
raining siege. There is a great deal
Of Significance attached TO the loss of
iohnson's ''milliOn-dollar grin" There
is no Eainsa wing but that Jack is tax
ing this affair with Willard seriously:
otherwise he you'd not have trained
SO nssiduoUsly since being definitely
informed that the fight would surely
be contested.
The fear of possible defeat is upon
Johnson. and if he enters the ring in
u pertTrhrd state of mind Wizards
Chan"c of ultimate victory will be
greatly enhanced. Jack has gone so
far as 20 take precautionary measure
TO insure has future in case of defeat.
as nc has threatened to open a hotel
in Havana shortly. He merely wishes
to know in advance whether the ma
tive" would look upon the proposition
favorably. Shrewd boy. that Mr.
Johnson.
Another matter that tended TO show
IohRsOn's upset frame of mind WAS in
dicated by the delibe ton with which
he chose the referee. \ score of
names Of prominent arbiterS were Of
fered by the Willard hackers but
Johnson refused to consider any name
On the list, fearing that he was TO be
''jobbcd' out of his title. His title
means his life to johnson, and he has
guarded it carefully.
1t now appears certain that nothing
viii crop up at the eleventh hour to
prevent the match. For a while after
Havana had been selected as the site
for the battle, il seems as if il would
never be permitted 10 be held. A fac
tion of rival promoters endeavored to
intimate Jack Curley. Dick KlcEin, ct
al into the belief that they would re-
sort TO any artifice in order to stop
tho bout taking place. But President
Menocal has personally approved of
the match, and the supposedly cham
her OF commerce can do uothiug to
hinder the bout. as that body is prac-
tically dead issue on the island
1t was also declared by prominent
ranch owner that the battle between
black and white would engender
racial feeling, and possibly start up
rising, but il is now learned that this
statement was made with the inten-
ton 10 create interest in the bout
So johnson and Willard will get to-
Ecthcr tomorrow and a new heavy
weight champion may be crowned.
Anyway, il is the best chance in five
years that n white man has had to
win back the championship from
Johnson.