Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-22
JOHNSTON BOOKED
TO DRAW The GATE
Promoting Genius of Madison
Square Garden Runs Afoul
of Political Juggernaut.
ALL HIS MATCHES SUCCESS
By RINGSIDE.

New York, Oct. 21.-They Ia clique
OF burrowing "sportsmen') are trying
to GUST James Jay Johnston as match
maker and manager of the Show cor
poration which conducts boxing bouts
in Madison Square Garden. James
Iay-it used to be joys making
determined stand, but the political as
pect has crept into the controversy,
and it will take a fighter possessing
Johnson's indomitable spirit TO cope
successfully with the obnoxious ele-,
ment.
Johnston presents some forceful ar
guments why he should be retained.
And he backs these arguments with
facts and cold figures. What he may
lack in Drawn Johnston more than
makes Up for in brain. His most con-
vincing argument in favor of his re-
tention is that the Garden has never
lost penny on a boxing match since
he was installed as matchmaker.
This is more than can be said tor
Johnston's four predecessors. These
gentleman all antedated Johnston as
supervisor of Garden boxing shows
since the Frawley law went into eff
feet, but not one turned in an account
that showed profit for the Garden
general management.
4 Makes Good on Job.
Ii was with view of getting re-
sults--in the form of huge profits
that the Garden directors secured
Johnston after his predecessors had
utterly failed. And Johnston made
good to such an extent that he at
once became the foremost promoter
OF boxing matches in the country, SUI
perseding Jimmy Coffrothl in this re-
spect.
And for his judicious management
and money making proclivities, they
are trying to give James Jay the
gate" Once the juggernaut politics
trails at the heels OF one It is well to
get off the highway.
Appended are some statistics which
seem to prove that Johnston is Pc
cul;arly adapted to managing the box
ing exhibitions in the great metropo-
ifs amphitheater:
: During the month of March, 1916,
Johnston had hand in staging three
bouts, and the gate receipts aggregat-
ed $i94,038.50 The Willard Moran
fight, which Johnston was instru-
mental in bringing to the Garden,
proved sufficient magnet, to attract
$751;, 900 at the box office, 1t is quite
true that TEX" Richard clinched the
match and was the nominal promoter,
but it was Johnston who induced the
westerner to stage it in the Garden
and thus swelled the Golfers OF the
Garden directors to the extent OF
some $4,000. This is the largest sum
ever paid for one days rental OF the
Garden.
Two Other Bouts.
The two other bouts which were
conducted BY Johnston last March
were the onard-Dundee and Welsh
Leonard matches. The former drew
$l4,53l.50, when everyone predicted ;
financial failure for Johnston; Will,
the Leonard Welsh affair showed re
ceipts Of $2S,507. The latter sum, j
must be remembered. was taken il
just six days after the Moran-Wil
lard fight of March rs. Leonard ant
/ Dundee fought on March s,
Johnston furnished more proof o
his capabilities. The total net profits
i for twelve fights under his Iegim,
ran UP to $53,23l. This was after al
expenses had been paid off; and unde
this headscomes the rental Of $l,00|
for each fight. The 81 900 is deducte,
before fight starts, in order to as
sure the Garden folks OF at least
slightreturn for opening the doors.
Never Pulled q Frost.
The largest amount, Of course, &C
crued from the Willard Moran fight
while the smallest sum, $2,400, wa
drawn by Langford and MeVey, tn
burly colored heavywcights, An
even with this meager sum OF 81 ,40(
Johnston was able to pay off tn
fighters and place more than $1,000 /
the hands of the Garden officials.
Johnston has been directing boxin
/ bouts in the Garden for eightee
months, and in all that time has neive
staged "bloomer," so far as e,
tracting a profit for the Garden Il
concerned. Yet this is the man the
are seeking to eject, and in his plac
install man whose practical know
edge Of the boxing game is confne
to witnessing an occasional boxin
exhibition. Politics is to blame fc
the existing chaos in Garden affair
and the sooner this disturbing ell
ment is removed from the premis,
the sooner New York's boxing pul
lie will be enabled to see some re
hstic fireworks. For Johnston has
number of attractive matches in col
temptation.
If Johnston is removed by the DO,
crs that be. he will immediate
buck" the Garden contingent
staging the matches he has in mind
at a rival shop, which in size is Sc
ond only to Madison Square Garde
And then we'll see if Johnston
really the promoting genius he h
thus far seemed to have shown hir
self to be.
0rooho opd C,o,,y