El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-09
WILLARD AND MORAN To NAME
OWN REFEREE FOR BIC BATTLE
Rickard Won't Act Because He Has No License Pro
moter is Now Negotiating For Madison Square Gar
den Which He Would Like to Get if Fair Rentals
Named; Price of Seats Keeps Him Guessing
BY ED CURLEY.

lew YORK. Feb. 9.-TeX Rickard
n sat all afternoon in the cafe OF
4 the Waldorf-Astoria listening 10
everything everybody had to say about
the WiIlard-Moran fight. When it came
to TeXs turn to say something vital
about the scrap, he passed and Just
smiled.
Naturally the war correspondent
sWoopcd down upon the pleasant look
ing promoter to find out what was new
They shot queries at the bland west
erner. but he was never feazed; parried
all direct questions, and when he dld
respond, never committed himself
Itickard said he was looking over
some places and had his eye on a loca-
tion that would seat around 22.5OO.
Despite all this IL wouldn't be sur
prise II the battle is staged in Madison
square Garden. There is a big recep-
ton slated for the night Of March IT,
but there is no doubt that II sauslec-
tory arrangements can be made WIN
the management Of the famous OLD
arena the gladiators Will joust there
Richard has a fondness for the gar
den, but he is willing to stand for a
fair rental, but that's all He also
added that he is willing to pay the
garden folks more money for the use
Of that arena than they ever made out
OF any fight.
To Confer With Johnston.
When pressed for an idea Of what
he figured was a fair rental Tex smiled
and said he would consult James John
ston, the manager OF the garden, and
talk over matters
Talking about hiring arenas, Tex re-
marked that one time he ran fight
ITS ali right they told him. and
he went right ahead
put up six thousand bucks he
added, sort Of a guarantee And on
the level he never saw a dollar Of that
5000 TO this day.
Bursting in with this somewhat of a
smile. il kind Of looks as IL Tex will
remember that experience when talk
ing to Mons. Johnston.
You've got TO hand a lot TO this
fellow Richard. He has the fight tied
up, and instead Of chortling about it,
conveys the idea that it is nothing
out Of tho ordinary.
Articles nue Today.
'Iu say this much" murmured
Richard. when ] sent my representa-
tive to Chicago L told him TO get the
match. When he asked how much he
would bid. I repeated, Don't come home
without the match"
It appears as il Richard ambalsa-
dor Obeyed instructions to the letter.
When the promoter gives them the
up-and-dOwn he viii probably have
more to say on that part Of the scrap.
The more you talk with Richard the
more you can see he has a yearnins
for the garden. And you can't blame
him, at that. as il stands out pre-emi-
nent as the proper spot. Under the
present conditions the garden can ac-
commodats at least 10000. but with
different seating arrangements at least
1000 more could be handled comfort
ably.
At both ends Of the garden bleachers
could be erected which would take care
OF a large number Of fans. Richard is
not stuck on too many boxes on the
main floor. He figures that about two
rows OF boxes would be plenty, leaving
the rest Of the space for chair seats.
As far as the seating arrangements
are concerned Rickard is a firm be-
lever in having every seat numbered
so there can be no trouble on this
score. There will be a minor detail
for he's had enough experience in other
big fights to settle this difficulty with
out any worrying.
To Number All Seats.
The price Of seats is something that
will keep the promoter guessing. While
he does not intend to ask more than
s25 as top price, he intends 20 feel out
the situation as to the popular feeling
regarding the admission tickets. He
declared he is going to do all in his
power to protect visiting spOrtsmen
from the clutches Of the ravenous
Spectators.
As far as disposing OF seats is con-
ccrned Richard was kept busy all day
the phone, talking to friends
who want to put in their reservations
Immediately. Before he went to dinner