The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-07-03
Shelby Head
Gets Credit
for Efforts
Mayor Jim Johnson Keeps
Broad Smile, Despite
Untoward Conditions

SHELBY, Mont, july a.-Ihefe
arc 5i9. 900 people ln Montana and
Mayor Jim johnson OF Shelby
Right now Mayor Jim stands out
like d rainbow In a elouded Ky above
them al.
The weight Of the Dempsey. Glib,
hons championship fight waH shifted
on him But his back was broad.
His smile was just as broad under
financial storm as when the big Mon
tana dream started
When everyone else WIS ready 20
desert the sinking ship. Mayor Jim
dd a Mary Roberts fgaehart and
kept smiling thru.
Hos a born fighter.
The word no is not In his yocabu.
larry.
Before the delay IN putting UP the
second 500, 900 gate OF three quar-.
ter Of n million was IN sight
Had u been paid promptly the
third 100000 would have come IN
from the advance ticket sale.
When Great Falls put up $4,000
10 make W the second payment.
Johnson raked up the rest OF II.
Toe Great Falls interests suggest
ed that Dan Tracy be installed 10
direct the Shelby enterprise.
Tracy came on tho Job--but quit
when he felt the fire
Again Mayor Jim jumped back Of
the wheel for the third payment
with his collateral OF real estate, his
cattle ranch. his sheep. his Shelby
bonds and his smile.
Newspaper men followed him
everywhere no went. They asked
him questions OF hls personal affairs
embarrassing thlnRs-that would
have driven less broad.minded per.
son 20 desperation.
But Jim never wnyered for a mo.
ment.
I'm going thru" he told them.
The fight slogan. 1T Shelby Done.
meant just that TO him-it shall be
done
when you think Of the West you
picture folks with big hearts and
rcd blood.
That's exactly The type you find In
Mayor Jim. treasurer OF the Demp.
styGibbons fight.
Mayor Jim was born in Montreal.
Canada, 60 years ago.
At the age OF 20 he floa,ed down
the Missouri river from For, Benton
TO Great Falls on flatboat.
He got a sob on tho MariaH cattle
ranch. Then he bought II.
There was no Shelby then. That
was before the railroad. Shelby con.
sisted OF a saloon and "A general mer.
ohandlsc store
lie hadn't been in Shelby long be.
fore he bought most Of #. too.
Mayor Jim has been sheiby's mayor
for IL ycarH Excepting for a short
time no is tho only mayor shelby
ever had
Most everyone has his own story
on how shelby go, the Dempsey. Glib.
bons fight. but here's how Mayor Jim
tells Il;
1T was carly last spring ] was
in Helena on business. A snowstorm
and blizzard held the little town OF
Shelby in its grip.
The oil boom doomed in good
weather but not much was doing
Just then.
Il have little gas stove in my
real estate office.
MEL McCutchcon and Body john
son, my son, were showed in for tho
night
They turned up the gas TO keep
warm. They were kinda blue.
Body suggested to Mel that some,
thing ought 10 be done TO wake up
the town.
The inspiration TO stage a worlds
championship fight got mixed up in
the conversation.
They decided TO wire Jack Kcarns.
manager OF Dempsey, the largest
purse he would refuse.
ITO make II look bona fide they
had Sam Sampson, local boxing pro.
motcr. send the wire, He fired the
first shot that later was heard round
the world
"Kearns wired back that he would
consider the offer.
Body and Mel and Sam didn't