Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-27
PACKEYTO MEET
GIBBONS IN CHI?
Plans Now Under Way TO Have Nc.
Farland Battle Mike In War
Benefit Nit Show.
FOR SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY
Proceeds OF Card to Be Devoted 10
CaRtonment Camps at Camp
Dodge and Macarthur.

-
Chicago, Dec. 27.--Packey McFar-
land In this corner; Mike Gibbons in
that corner.
That's the announcement that may
be made early in the month OF FeD-
ruary if the plans now contemplated
20 through and the machinery TO
bring about this match OF star per-
formers OF pugilism already has been
set In motion II is to be a mstcn
for the benefit Of the war camps OF
Dodge, Des Moines, and Macarthur,
Waco, Texas.
But where will this contest Of
brains and pugilistic skill take place!
Right here IN Chicago is the answer
II those behind 10 do not run into a
snag. Mcfarland was In Joliet yes
terday spending the holiday with his
family. Today he 10 coming TO Chi
eago to make moves which are e&-
pected will result IN his meeting Gi9
bons here.
II is the plan to hold the big con-
test IN the coliseum, which will seat
more than 5000 people, a big enough
crowd to warrant several thousand
dollars going IN the funds Of Camp
Dodge and Camp Macarthur. The rea-
son February Is picked for the bout
is because it Is impossible 10 secure
the coliseum In January, all dates be
ing filed.
AS evidence that the wheels are re
volving 10 bring about this match 1t
"a only necessary 70 state that Gov
ernor Lowden at Springfield is aware
OF the plan. II was said at Spring
field Yesterday that the executives at
tention had not been called to the pro-
posed match and he would withhold
his decision as 10 a permit until the
matter had been officially presented
to him.
Packey, with his usual display Of
gray matter, blew 80 with the an
nouncement of a scheme to raise a bic
lot Of dough for the athletic equip
ment funds at the various army can
comments He left Chicago for Wash
ington last night TO place his plar
before the top cards ia the war de
partment
"The boys in the army are bungry
for boxing" said packey. Give then
nav envelope and the announcement
of q boxing match and every cent the
don't need 10 eat on viii 81 to SCI
the fight
ut seems to- me that the war de
partment ought To capitalize this low
OF the mitt game, That's what [ an
figuring on now ] would like TO sc
permission for Charlie White Beun
Leonard, Eitchio Mitchell Joe Well
ing and other good boxers now dom
government work 90 tour the yariou
army environments with me and TAX
on all Corners, military or civilian, e'
cry cent 0l the receipts to 80 10 tn
athletic funds We would clean u
a handsome sum In O short time.
Willing to Box Anybody.
CAS- for myself. I ann willing I
night anybody, anywhere. for the ben,
no Of any camps athletic fund, Mif
Gibbons or Jess Willard-the all loo
alike-if they win agree to dOna
their end To- the same purpose ! civ
mine And ! guarantee a fight too
this army training stun has put Il
IN grand shape
80 far as / am able to see no
lheEt VIII 0e lttle DONG in pFOIe
sional fighting until the war is owe
A The public is cutting out every 20
sble expense and the promoters a
going under The chief supporters
the boxing business from now on W
be the soldiers, ard they won't spe
their money for boxing unless tn
are assured OF two things. They mt
be able to witness a real battle a
she proceeds must come back to I
Army
IT the government wants me
make the experiment l will take
squad OF high-olass boxers ar0u
She circuit of army environments, me-
sng all corners under conditions Il
will assure good battle and turni
Z over all the money to the cantc
uent's athletic fund ! don't wa
cent for my services and / knt
the other boys wouldn't want anythi
either In fact, we wouldn't car
anybody who was out for his o.
profit.