Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-11
BY MILTON MACKAYE.

signed by Billy Gibson. the champions
manager, and Eugene Joseph 1unney."
Tunney Suit Recalled.
THIS document called for the pay
l. ment of 10 per cent of Tunney's
100000 purse 70 Hof in ex
change for "one dollar ($D and valu-
explained the nature of these considera-
lions and the phrasing, in view of his
lack of official connection with the bout.
has, accordingly, served to tickle the
imagination of the public.
The suit in equity has, to date, failed
to come to trial, but whether 1t has
been lost in the shuttle or merely tenn
porarily pigeonholed as a matter of
legal custom, no one seems to know.
Tunney has denied all knowledge of
the document, adding at the same time,
that If his manager did sign the con
tract" it was without his direction.
The general story told by boxing men,
however, is that Hoff cited his politi-
cal connections and suggested to Glib
son that he sign the document as in
surance that his fighter would get a
square deal in the bout-that is, a
square deal for a cut in his profits
Tunney, winning the fight, had no fur
Their need for political protection.
In New York State the pressure OF
the wardheeler is as strong as else
where and possibly stronger. for it is
in New York that the big money in box
ing is to be made.
Jimmie Johnston's Good Fortune.
COMPLAINT frequently is made that
~ James Joy Johnston, the manager
who is proud of being known as
the boy Bandit" gets from the New
York Athletic Commission, or Boxing
Commission, almost everything ne
wants.
Johnston has been known in boxing
as a smart fellow for long time. He
has managed such fighters as Mike Nc
Tigue, Ted Kid Lewis, owen Moran and
Gypsy Daniels. At one time he was
the promoter at the old Madison Square
Garden, New York.
Johnston is a friend Of James A.
Farley, chairman of the New York
Commission, and a friend of Mayor
Walker of New York, author Of the
State boxing law. 1t was indeed the
mayor who introduced Johnston to the
commissioner.
Mr.. Farley has denied that Johnston
is any favorite with the commission
and Johnston has denied 1t, too. The
fact remains, nevertheless, that man
ayers and fighters who want to get
on in New York continue to think he
is. This feeling on their part has made
a solid pot of money for Johnston.
James J. Johnston wrote q sports
authority some months ago, "is SO
highly in favor with the New York
State Boxing Commission, or he has
made it understoond that he is, that
visiting pri7efighters always are willing
to cut the boy Bandit" in for at least
10 per cent to get the good Offices OF
the boxing commission.
New York State is where the big
money of the cauliflower industry has
been made, consequently Mr.. Johnston
has pieces of many fighters and will
have pieces of many more while the
game Is conducted that way"
Managed Phil Scott.
JOHNSTON, by his avowal. shared 10
per cent of the earnings of Jack
Sharkey at one time. Johnny
Buckley is Jack Sharkey's manager.
Just what services the Boy Bandit"
gave for that 10 per cent remains even
now, when the agreement Is voided, a
matter of unsatisfied mystery to the
public.
Johnston next appeared as the man
ager of Phil Scott, the Painting Eng
lishman, and this time he took the full
33ls per cent. Scott got his moneys
worth.
SCOTS record had been anything but
impressive when he came to the United
States, and he started his American
career by kissing the canvass at Madi-
son Square Garden when Knute Han
sen knocked him out in one round. He
did outlook such gentlemen as Pierre
Charles and Roberto Roberti, and he
won over Pauline in a close decision,
but it was generally assumed that he
was through after the victory by foul
over Otto Won Porat.
That foul rolled the customers. Scott
put on an exhibition of pitiful pain, but
the doctors announced that the blow
had struck on his Abdominal protector
Scott vent back to England; his career
seemed washed up.
But Jimmy Johnston still was his
manager Scott came into the limellght
next as the choice of the Madison
Square Garden Corporation to oppose
Jack Sharkey in the Spring feature
match at Miami. Just what entitled
Scott to that match, just what made
him a big-timer in the heavyweight
division, Is a question that was never
answered. OF course, ne lost to snar-
| key. He claimed foul and refused to
continue after the referee had disal-
| lowed the claim.
Mr.. Farley Questioned.
TAN Johnston get anything he wants
| ~ from the New York State Boxing
Commission, as some of those or
the outside contend? The writer put
the question recently to Mr.. Farley.
! Jimmy Johnston Is one OF my bes