The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-02
g Champion Appears Bashful
in Interview With Journalist
ded by Manager Archer, Jess Willard Defends Much
Attacked War Record and Discusses Fight.

whether he wir~ or loses. the largest
guarantee ever made an Individual
boxer. WIZARDS good business sense
or was Il that OF Archer--rnade the
! bargain afte- TWO days argument)
business manager Archer then
named the states where the fight
would be Allowed as follows: idaho,
Louisiana New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Ohio. Missouri. Colorado. Massachu-
sets, wisconsin. Minnesota Nevada,
and Marylana And we think that
Michigan will ,cin US soon"
whatever town Is decided upon VIII
ne Eraced with new arena to cost
SIS oeo and TO seat fifty thousand. ac-
cordins TO Richards promises.
asked the champion II he really.
truly liked TO fight. He said he did
II thcre was money in It
When I mentioned the Willard war
record. both Archer and his boss
jumped to the defensive They de-
cia-ed that there had been much mis-
representation. that less had given as
rnsnv benefits as he had been allowed
70 give. That he had offered more
and had been turned down. That the
press hadn't mentioned all ne had
done. Also that he had bought
great many bonds.
Look at that exhibition bout In
Texas. when Jess raised $4,000 for the
war camp community service" ex-
claimed Archer. Nary line In the
papers about that There were others
too. that didn't get any publicity.
Most of the trouble was that all OF the
training camps wanted Jess at the
same time. OF course he couldn't be
all over al osate.s
Well, the wars over now and there
are many ether things to occupy the
Willard mind. For tnstance--ofl. JeM
thinks he has struck 1t rich around
Ranger. Texas He is very enthusiastic
about the future
Tim anxious to get the night of, so's
] can begin boring" Willard enthuseo.
It's down decr>-nice..r rich OIL
And he beamed contemplatively, as
child would say yum. yum.' at the
sight OF a passing plate Of hot cakes.
I began to wonder Just how much
money the erstwhile pauper now had
rnassed. so l pu. the question to him.
Mr.. Willard smiled; well, dunno
I haven't figured 1t up. It's pretty
hard to say. You see have invest
ments. You know how that L. You
| can't ten in advance how they arc 60
ing to turn out
| I hazarded: AT least you haven.t
lost anything"
ct is estimated that tho champion
ship is worth a quarter OF a million
dollars to the holder. Willard GER
tainly has made several hundred thou
sand since 1889
jess said he expected to subscribe
$40 ,o0o--had already subscribed $500
to the last Liberty loan, making the
total. he says. $4,000 The big loan
emonstratio1-~the flyers especially
gave him quite a thrill -
TN couple OF years-w4fen they
get safe enough for me to pflot--I'm
going to buy an airplane." he pre-
dicted.
/ Quite ciose to the Willard heart !.
his residence. his suburban home ir
Lawrence. Kansas ninety miles b,
motor from Kansas City. Here lives
his wife AMI five Riddles. with theil
ponies and tame deer. BEAUTIFULLY ir
the open. Fifty miles north lies hi.
six hundred acre farm. cropped with
| wheat for his dual reason: "Because
the government needs wheat. and
there's money in It" The present-day
Jess. however, does not actively farm
He leases the land, as ne does hi.
home here in Rogers Park.
Before left Mr.. Willard to hfs early
bed. l asked the obvious question
Are you training for the fight ant
| what are you doing ?"
The question confused him a bit.
"Er-ah-a little Not much I dom
need much. It's too early. I'm ir
good conditon--just little pushing
you know"
Quite mysterious. wondered,
Well, no matter. Mr.. Willard. RI
see You act for the movies tomorrow
and maybe---next day. can have .
peep at your training' Goodnight