Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-18

the otheF one'thlrd and act as presidel
no way would be connected, as Mr..
ture 1t was wonderful offer and
proved to me that Harry Edwards was
one of the biggest-ht tarted and most gem
erouS men in the world
We'll" continued Muggsy, "McGulgan
broke down and cried when he realized
'he chance Edwards was giving him to
get on his feet again.
j don't deserve IL. he sobbed. as he
reached out his trembling hand to shake
hands with Edwards. 4 don't deserve it
ana | don't know what to do
That's all right. Jack responded
Edwards 4 want to dc it and that's
all there is to 1t. Here's little present
which VIII tide YOU over for a time.
And he gave McCuigan $50.
Met Last Saturday
Jack made an appointment for sat
urdaN. when the owner of the building
could be present and the lease signed
We met in Mr.. Edwards's home. and at
the start it looked as # the deal would
be closed. The landlord had the lease
ready and we were TO pay S3500 the first
year, $500 the second and $4,000 the
next three years. The papers were on
the table. all Of the details had been dis
cussed and the only things needed were
the signatures.
Suddenly McGuigan stood up, l,.,I<ed
at Edwards and In II shaliy voice, which
almost was shrek, said:
"'Don't do it, Harry. PLEASE
don't do il! Don't let them drag you
| into this deal The place is a hoodoo,
IT'S jinXed. it's bad luck and 1t will ruin
you. PLEASE call it off I won't let
you get into 1t"
Mr.. Edwards tried to argue with Me-
Gu!gan, but II was no use Jack sat
there biting his finger nails and would
not listen to anything. Then he got up
and left.
viii Stick to Edwards
"'ihe plan was to run shows every
/ Saturday night at popular rrices---that
( Is, at twenty-five and iif:y cents. Mr.
/ Edwards Insisted on those pr ces and
believed the club would make quite a
/ little money, l am sorry the deal ia off
! and ! want to announce that | will not
/ 60 into partnership with any one else
! who desires the National Club. | have
/ been mentioned as one of the match
! makers IN case some New York pro-
/ mOters come over here, but there is
/ nothing to II. promised Mr. Edwards
to stick with him and | will keep my
word. The only way | will consent to
act in any capacity at the National is
to be one Of the partners CT Harry Ed.
wards"
The fate OF the cd club has been
| the principal topic Of conversation in
| hstc circles for the last month. Every
! one wanted to see some new blood in
/ jected into the National. for the place
always has been popui,r and boxing
fans Will attend the shows II high class
talent is put on. The sudden telni.>s-
tlon of the latest effort TO save the club
also has caused lots OF comment and on
calm reelection, perhaps the outlook
| isn't 50 bad after all.
Good Thing for Olympia
With prices ranging from, twenty-five
to fifty cents, the National ceuld not
| even dream of competing with the Olym-
pia. High-cass boxers who receive $500
10 Sl25O for six rounds couldn't he
booked with the result that the Broad d
street arena would pc chnm Me 5ions on Der. go
! formed The National would cease 10
be an important club with only mediocre
bouts on the card. What more could
be expected at twenty-five and hfty
There always has been keen rivalry
between the two clubs. II top-notch
pis, he would demand a certain amonG, Gsl,!,
ge, it. he would say: "All right, ~, go
yer 70 the Nn1ion Tbs 1aek same MSggah stHni
vas vas worked at the National and the re.
-ur was n constant bickerlng. with the
clubs at dagger's points all OF the time
For example McG9igavw Y q vw,,I,sms Wamneu theG u
bantamweight champion Of the world
and Johnny Kilbane, the feath9Iweighl
tits holder matdS SrrS Snd Ed@SFf thSS hid @ for
IT, Edwards got 1t for $1,000 or
$500 to each man. McGyigan then
put on the greatest fight caro- ever I pre-,
sented In the history OF boxlns. ran ,a. az
opposition show and made money. lnt
cording 10 reports. something like $1,000
Boxers Would Lose
This would be eliminated II the Ma
tionaI were run on cheap basis, The
oIvn,nia could cut the $1,000 fighter
down 10 $500. and even the preliminary
boxer would suffer. There would be a
saving all along the line and tbs
OLYMPIA could save thousands or dollars
each year. II you look into the matte
closely. you can see where the Nationa
can be run at loss and sun De
profitable investment.
The deal looked like monopoly to VI
whereby Mr.. Edwards would gain con
troll of boxing in philadelphia. IL wa
a freat piece of business and every on
would profit 'except the boxers NJ
i,nger would high prices be paid. tn
hoxing game VIII lose one 'of it's i'm
nortant assets and the younger elemen
win not be SO anxious TO take up tn
,, sport
: Edwards or HIS motives. He Is . busi
: mass man and = braipy one. He use
hia brains In boxing and that is tl
~ IiI5 4 II & ,tlI 4 " = IL. va. 'a