The Washington times., 1922-10-22
PAGING BEEF
MARKET; ASKS
FOR FIGHTERS
James ]. Johnston Again on
Hunt for Possible Opponent
for Dempsey. o..-
By DAMON RUNYON.

BY DAMON RUNYON.
AyEW YORK, Oct. 21.--Just
~ when everything seemed o.
~ K, and quite Jake for
nice, quiet winter, James j.
Johnston breaks out in a new
spot with an old complaint.
James J. is once more paging
the beef market. He is seeking
young men who are anxious TO
win the heavyweight champion
ship of the world. All of which
means that another of James ].
Johnston's famous pulling and
hauling tournaments Is stewing.
About q year ago James J. put an
advertisement in the papers calling
for young men from eighteen to
twenty-five years old. weighing not
less than 180 pounds. who wished to
become professional pugilists, and
grab Jack Dempsey's title. The en-
suing rush looked like charge OF
Iowa's entire football squad.
Trucks were deserted In the busy
streets. Merchandise was left fiat
on the wharves. James J. Johnston
found himself with enough hefty
young men to move the Woodwork
building.
He finally put them all on in an
elimination joust over in Jersey City.
and by and by traffic commenced to
move again. Only two or three faces
were missing from their accustomed
places In the marts Of trade when
the tournament was over.
What became Of those left on
Ia - hn % H. nj a
detail. Suffice to say, Jack Demp.
sey Is still the heavyweight cham
pion of the world.
A Persevering Cuss.
However, James J. Johnston is a
persevering cuss. He knows they
can't rule him off for trying, so he
Is around flourishng another help
wanted ad.
mo scientist, artisan. author, pro.
fessor, mechanic or professional man
can command the amount of money
successful heavyweight boxer re.
ceives for his services" argues
James. Rapid advancement assur.
ed those who show the most prom
ise In their elementary classes.
Boxing experience not neces.
sary." he adds. THE first rudiments
OF the boxing game will be taught.
| Courage most essential"
| In way, James j. is doing a
service to the community with these
! tournaments.
Many a husky youth is dissatis.
lied with his job in life and believes
that IL he had the opportunity he
would become great fighter.
After he goes through James J.'s
mil ne Is apt to learn that there is
something to professional fighting
| besides the desire, and he returns 10
MS job quite content to stick to It.
Has Handled Heavies.
Johnston has handled two heavy.
weight fighters in his time. Per.
haps that is the reason he inserts
that line, courage most essential q"
Johnston had George Rodel, the
celebrated Boer. and he baIlybooed
George quite extensively. He oncp
maze Rodel deliver a good showing
against Jess Willard by the simple
expedient of soaring Jess.
1t was before Jess was champion.
ana right after Jess had killed Bull"
Young by punching him around the
ring. James visited Jess before th,.
big kansan was going into the rims
with George. and said.
| "Looky here now, Jess. this fel.
low has a weak heart and you
want to be careful what you do TO
him. You don't want to be killing
another man, do you?"
Jess didn't. AS result OF
James warning Willard was so care,
full with the Boer that some thought
George out-registered Jess.
Later Became Contender.
Later on Jess became the fore.
most contender for Jack Johnson :
title. Any man who could lick vii.
lard would undoubtedly move into
that niche and land the match with
the black champion.
James ]. secured a bout for Rodel
with Willard at New Haven. 1t was
a historic incident in pugilism. jim.
my Britt was playing vaudeville in
New Haven at the time, and attended
the russ In evening clothes TO root
for James J.'s entry.
owen Moran, the English fighter
happened to be In New Haven that
night, and. hearing of the fight. he
Joined the Johnston party. Further
more. ne volunteered to work behind
Rodel as a second. He had never
! seOaSi pcAOtt, Uut owen assumed
that he must be a good fighter OF
Johnston wouldn't be managing him
Ended In Ninth.
1t was one of those heayyweiph h,
battles characteristic of the white
Hope" period Of pugilism. Willard
was slow. and Rodel was slower
Neither had much knowledge of box
Ing, but for eight rounds the Boel
nicked the tall Kansan enough to put
him in front on points.
Johnston, highly elated, was seeing
visions Of a title match. The face Of
Moran as he watched the two his
fighters was study. He had neve,
seen anything like this before unde,
the name OF boxing.
Rodel lasted into the ninth round
then he succumbed, and with hin
went James Us fondest hopes,
round and a half more. and the Roe,
might have been the man to go Il
Cuba to fight johnson.
OD0ul Nav r, Apo&hor