Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-05-05
BY BOB McNIGHT.
(Former Aviator-L Lieutenant in
France,)

ny DSD MSNASI1 /.
(Former Acknowledgements in
France.)
Chicago, May AIR. Willard
Mr.. Willard"
The paging bellboy-ex-dough.
boy wounded at Amiens-limped
among the loungers of the Boul-
Mich hotel where Mr.. Jess Willard
of Lawrence, Kan, likes to stay
because it is so quiet and plain.
Presently the war veteran found
him in the dining room.
Says he'll be out soon's he fin
ishes eating" reported the page,
Perhaps you remember Jess Will
larda> Time was when everybody
knew him. That was before the war.
Many now have forgotten him, SO
hidden from the public eye has he
been, engrossed in private affairs.
Jess Willard is still the champion
heavyweight pugilist of the world
His title dates from April IS, 1915
Then his K. 0. in the twenty-sixth
round wrested the title from the
black world and Jack Johnson, van
pushed, began to tour the world
Since that big day in Cuba, over
four years ago. Jess has won an
other match-just one-and that not
knockout. Frank Moran lost the
decision in New York city March
%, 1916. Exhibition matches!
Matches-circus and few war ben
ehts-and financial affairs; these
form the recent history of the cham
pion.
Soon Mr.. Willard must defend his
honor for the second time. William
Harrison Dempsey, more generally
dubbed Jack" covets the crown
He is scheduled to have his try for
it next Independence day. A scrap
Ply, ambitious, young fellow is
Dempsey, and
But Mr.. Willard has finished din
ner now and l have promised to
talk to him about his forthcoming
engagement-and other things. The
man stepped forward to meet
seemed about to bulge through his
skin tight business suit. Surely, |
thought, the well-tailored seams
would burst and leave Jess Willard
strikingly nodded, in his fighting
togs assuming, of course, that he
isn't wearing B. V. D.'s.) But they
ARCHAEOLOGICAL! And he managed
to sit down carefully without dis
grace in a chair in the corner OF
the lobby. Roy O. Archer, who cares
for Wizards interests, seated him
self on my blind side to keep the
big boy from saying the indiscreet
Mr.. Archer is half portion avoir-
dupois of the man he manages and
spent his apprentice days with cir
Gus.
Anticipating my own embarrass-
ment on meeting man OF such
renown as l pictured the present
king of heavyweights to be, l was
astonished to find that he had a cor
ner on that emotion. With ry
word, he blushed and choked in his
vocal arrangements. Obviously, the
championship had not made Jess
conceited. 1t has not swelled his
head as 1t has swelled his money
bags. Prosperity has not metamor-
| phosed the farm boy. 1t has. per-
haps, made him even more self-con-
scious. He has the air f wishing
to get ava from people. Probably
his fsc-l advisers alone have given
him his present greed for gold. "a
good fellow" / would call him, in
the bet sense. He means we'll. He
wants to get on with his fellows
as long as he has to associate with
them. To be nice--he will even put
himse.. out-in his way.
not a heavyweight. He hasn't the
gift of gab." | believe he would
rather fight than talk. To bring
out just few monosylables, it takes
all sorts of coaxing questions. We
went right to the forthcoming fight
with its S127,500 purse, the largest
ever offered.
"The fight. Mr.. Willard, is it COM
ing off"
Eyes, sir" he replied, gulping bit
and reddening. Richard may be de-
pended on. What he says goes"
"When?' I persisted. "After the
first run of the movie you're max
ing? (Willard is in town principally
to appear in motion picture play).
Perhaps some time in the iail?"
mo, sir, July d." laughed Jess,
admitting the good business sense OF
the suggestion. TEX Rickard can
De depended on for the date, too"
What is Rickard--your manager
or partner? Has he decided upon
the placer" continued your reporter
"No, sir. He's neither. He's ;ust
the promoter" Jess declared, 81
haven't heard from him lately, but
l don't think he's picked odt the
place or the referee. or he'd have
let me know. I'd like to see him
pick some place down east. 1t
would be better for him. He would
make more money out of it.
For himself, location makes nc
difference, for the contract reads
that Willard is to have 100000 and
a share of the motion picture rights
whether he wins or loses, the larg.
est guarantee made all Individual
boxer. Wizards good business
sense-or was it that of Archer
Ndrove the bargain after two days