The sun., 1919-02-09
HOPES LATEST IS
WORST EXCUSE YET
Plea Of Exhibitions Already
Arranged No Bar Against
Title Defence.
SCHAEFER IS INSISTENT
Backers Ready to Clinch Bill
lard Match for Any
Amount Asked.
SCHAEFER IS INSISTENT

The announcement by the manager OF
Willie Hoppe that the champion will
consent to meet Young Jake Schaefer In
a match for $1,000 a side. in accordance
with the challenge issued in behalf OF
the Chicagoan. is apparently another
evasion on the part Of the title holder.
Hopes excuse for putting off the
match till October on the ground that he
IL booked for exhibition work till June
will not be accepted as sufficient by the
patrons OF the game. Schaefer and
Cochran are also booked for important
exhibition work. but these youngsters
are willing to cancel their bookings and
play Hoppe in match or tournament.
Tho winner of a Hoppe Schaerer match
in this city next spring probably would
receive in wagers and gate receipts
$4,000. and Hoppe would have to play
many an exhibition game before he col
lected that amount OF money.
Hoppe is under salary to the Bruins
wick Bake -Collender Company, which
controls professional billiards, and the
impression prevails that the company Is
not ,overanXious for the champion to
make a match with so dangerous a chal-
lenge- as Schaefer. Should Hoppe be
beaten the company would have to reckon
Schaefer as a high salaried employee.
Tho company has made no objection to
matches between Hoppe and less dan
Gerous opponents. but does not seem
eager TO influence the champion to play
with either Cochran or Schaefer.
As to Hopes Excuses.
Hoppe, who Is travelling about the
country playing exhibition games in
which he is advertised as the balkline
champion, although tho donors OF the
emblem say the title has lapsed. first de-
n
challengers on the ground that none OF
his prospective opponents could furnish
sufficiently large side bet to make 1t
worth while. Cochran expressed a de-
sire for contest with Hoppe and was
told TO produce a side bet OF $4,000.
Friends OF the youngster consented to
back Cochran for that amount. where
upon the title holder" dropped the sub
ject and left on a tour of the country.
Al the conclusion of the last match
between Cochran and Schaefer It be-
came evident that tho Chicagoan was
best equipped to battle with Hoppe. and
this impression is so general that men
have been found willing to back the son
Of the late Wizard" in a title match
with Hoppe up to $4,000. Tod Sloan.
formerly famous jockey. has power OF
attorney from the men who are willing
10 risk 5000 on the outcome OF a match
between Hoppe and Schaefer.
Sloan already has posted a forfeit OF
$1,000 to bind the match and declares
that the entire amount will be placed in
tho Shareholders hands the instant
Hoppe deigns to sign articles OF agree
ment. While Sloan did not give the
names Of the sportsmen behind the
proposition. II Is understood that Charles
A. Stoneham, the new owner OF the
Giants. is the leading figure in support
OF Schaefer's claims to q championship
match.
Must Play for Title.
ct Is Idle for Hoppe 10 talk OF
lapsed title" said Sloan. land Schaefer's
hackers will not make the match unless
Hoppe consents to play for the worlds
championship at either 1872 or 1871.
Hoppe won both those titles and the fact
that the emblems are now his personal
property does not change the fact that
he Is the champion. The donors of the
emblems may stage a tournament TO re-
establish the titles, but until that is done
Hoppe Is the de facto champion. and
there Is nothing to prevent his playing
Schaefer for that title
1T the donors OF the emblem desire
to stage a championship tournament
later on. we'll and good, but what
Schaefer's hackers want Is a match in
this city as soon as may be for the
worlds championship and $4,000 a side.
therefore. II Hopes only reason
for avoiding a match is the alleged lack
Of a large side stake, that objection now
Is swept away and the champion will IN
all fairness be compelled to play or ac-
knowledge that he fears the issue.
The hackers OF Schaefer do not say
that the youngster will defeat Hoppe,
hut they feel that the boy has a chance
10 win and for that reason are willing
IN hack him with money"