Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-04-14
WILLARD HAS
CLEAR IT'LL
Jess, in Letter to His Wife, Tells
Her of Fight With Jack
..... johnson.

Los Angeles, April 13.--Jess vii
lard undoubtedly has a clear claim to
the title of worlds champion, but just
the same he must share the title with
another, for he did not win that great
fight in Havana last Monday alone
He was aided just as much as though
there was a third fighter in the ring
helping him, and when he sent that
huge right fist Of his crashing to the
jaw Of Jack Johnson, knocking the
big black out, his victory was due as
much to the unseen DIS to his own
efforts.
Mrs. Jess Willard made her hus.
. band champion of the world. In a
letter she received from him yester-
day he told her that during every mo-
ment of that terrible battle Of a week
ago he was thinking of her and the
plans they have made for the future
Of their children. He gave her credit
for having prepared him for the tri.
umph.
Jess gives me too much credit for
his success. but l am glad to share
the championship with him if he
wants it that way" said Mrs. willard.
| am glad that l have been able to
help him, but just REMEMBER that Jess
is naturally a good, c'ean living man
and it has not, taken any effort on
my part to keep him in the right path.
HE says l was with him in his
thoughts every minute during the bat.
tie; we'll, l was with him in spirit, too,
and l am a mighty happy woman to
think that he has worked his way to
the championship Of the world.
There is never any danger Of Jess
going the way SO many champions
have gone. He will not be led into
fast company just because he has to
associate with a lot of sporting men.
Jess has good, sturdy stock in him,
has lived a simple, honest life, but
best of all, he loves his wife and chill
dren and will keep his name clean on
their account.
Jess never cared for the fast life
that has shortened the careers of so
many fighters. He and l have talked
that phase of the fighting life over
many many times and he has agreed
with me that we must just remain
the plain, simple folks we have been
ever since we left the farm in Kan
sas, after he took, luD pugilism. .
II do not object to him being a fight
er. always have, been, confident, that
he would one day win the champion
ship and he says It was my confidence
in him that has helped him attain the
object Of his ambition, He always
wanted to excel in whatever he under.
took, and it was the same when he
decided to enter the prize ring four
years ago.
''E'oth Jess and l we're sure he
would win when he left here to make
arrangements for the fight with the
promoters in New York. He never
made any plans in the event Of his
losing. All of our plans We're made
with a view to his winning that fight.
you see, we have four children,
three girls and a baby boy, Jess, Jun
iior, l6 months old, and Jess not only
wanted to win the championship from
the negro, but he wanted to. earn mo.
ney with which to give our children
an education. We plan to buy a stock
farm in the middle west. shall live
there if Jess continues fighting and.
we shall send the children to good
schools and later to college.
Jess is an ideal husband and faith
or. He is seldom away from home
when he can be there. He is never
cross with ME or the children, and de.
spite his great strength, he is almost
as tender as a woman. Instead Of
whipping them when they are bad,
he will talk with them. and make